{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-cardin-and-colleagues-venezuelas-demand-for-freedom-will-not-be-silenced", "Duckworth, Cardin and Colleagues: Venezuela\u2019s Demand for Freedom Will Not Be Silenced", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)\u2014a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)\u2014joined SFRC Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) and other members of SFRC in issuing the following statement condemning the Maduro regime\u2019s ongoing campaign of intimidation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, her family and peaceful protestors across Venezuela:\n\n\u201cOn July 28, despite arbitrary candidate bans, rampant censorship, and organized intimidation, Nicolas Maduro suffered a resounding electoral defeat by the people of Venezuela. Their overwhelming support for Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez Urrutia sent a clear message to Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and all his enablers: state-sponsored violence and disinformation will never silence Venezuela\u2019s cry for freedom. The world has heard this cry, and we will not ignore it.\n\n\u201cWe call on the Maduro regime to immediately release the thousands of political prisoners unjustly held in its custody \u2013 peaceful protestors, women, and children included. The relentless harassment and intimidation of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her family are shameless acts of desperation. Maduro must uphold international law, honor Venezuela\u2019s obligations under the Vienna Convention, and end threats to opposition figures who have sought refuge in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, under the protection of the Brazilian government.\n\n\u201cThe Maduro regime must respect the results of the July 28 election and conduct a peaceful transfer of power to the democratic opposition. While last week\u2019s announcement of a UN Human Rights Council probe into Maduro\u2019s efforts to subvert Venezuela\u2019s election is a welcome step forward, this alone is not enough. The Biden administration and incoming Trump administration must intensify efforts to address the Maduro regime\u2019s abuses, as true accountability and lasting justice are only possible through sustained action. The U.S. Congress remains firmly dedicated to championing policies to support the Venezuelan people in their enduring pursuit of democracy \u2013 a dedication that will never waver.\u201d\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-cardin-and-colleagues-venezuelas-demand-for-freedom-will-not-be-silenced"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.663879957050085, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}