Progressive Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) made a clandestine journey to Cuba last week, drawing ire from several Republican lawmakers.
Jayapal, chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Omar, the deputy chairwoman, led a delegation of approximately twelve individuals to the communist-controlled island, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Among the attendees was a staffer from Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-Calif.) office, as per the outlet. The trip, unannounced by the liberal lawmakers beforehand and unreported by Cuban state media, remained undisclosed until after its completion.
“A spokesperson for the progressive caucus confirmed Representatives Jayapal and Omar’s recent visit to Cuba, during which they engaged with members of Cuban civil society and government officials to address matters of human rights and the U.S.-Cuba bilateral relationship,” the spokesperson told the Miami Herald.
The timing of the secretive excursion coincided with a recess week in the House of Representatives and overlapped with a visit to Havana by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Lavrov’s trip to Cuba formed part of a broader Latin American tour, which included stops in Venezuela and Brazil.
