Background

On Easter weekend, April 22, 2000, INS agents stormed the home of Elian’s Miami relatives and ripped the boy from the arms of the man who had saved him, Donato Dalrymple, and then returned him to the clutches of Communist dictator Fidel Castro. During the raid, peaceful protesters from "Little Havana" were gassed, beaten, threatened and clubbed by then Attorney General Reno’s storm troopers. In this issue, The JW Verdict focuses on efforts of anti-American leftists to lobby Reno for Elian’s return to Cuba, calling in to question the Clinton Administration’s motivation.

Key Excerpts:

Letter from Karen Jo Koonan, President of the National Lawyers Guild…

"The National Lawyers Guild urges the United States government to adhere to international, United States and Cuban law, as well as basic tenets of human decency, and immediately return Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba."

"The dire economic conditions in Cuba are the direct and specifically intended result of the United States economic blockade of Cuba, which since 1960 has been designed to bring about "hunger, desperation and overthrow of government" in Cuba. This extraterritorial policy is unprecedented in both its duration and scope."

"The National Lawyers Guild calls on the United States to abide by international, United States and Cuban law."

Response letter from the Justice Department…

"As you know, on January 5, Commissioner Doris Meissner of the INS announced that Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Elian’s father, possesses the sole legal authority to speak on behalf of his son regarding immigration matters."

Relevance

Janet Reno attempted to convince the American people that Elian Gonzalez was returned to Cuba for his own good and for the good of his family. However, this letter, which accurately reflects the Clinton Administration’s position as evidenced by a copy of a response letter from the Justice Department, clearly shows that the decision was made to placate Cuba. The writer tips her hand when criticizing the Cuban embargo, effectively blaming the United States for the tremendous number of Cubans who seek freedom on American soil. She further illustrates her allegiance by calling upon the United States government to show deference to Cuban law. Throughout its investigation of the Elian Gonzalez controversy, Judicial Watch has uncovered numerous documents that show Bill Clinton and Janet Reno were acting in the best interests of Cuba, not Elian Gonzalez and not the United States. The question is, why? JW will find out.