Nicolas Maduro's Regime Spies on Marco Rubio and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Reports emerged on Monday that Nicolas Maduro said his regime in Venezuela is running a large spy operation in the U.S. and two Florida Republicans who have been sharp critics -- U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen -- are targets.

I'm greatly honored that this despotic regime that imprisons innocent opposition leaders, denies basic human rights to all and kills students peacefully demonstrating in the streets would find me to be a thorn in its side, Ros-Lehtinen said on Monday. Being a target of an autocratic regime, whether it is the Castro brothers or Nicolas Maduro, is a badge of honor. The Venezuelan people endure continual violations of their human rights, suffer from a spiraling economy, and live with constant violence sanctioned by the Venezuelan regime.

This latest episode by the Venezuelan regime is another reaffirmation that the puppeteers in Cuba continue to influence Maduro to adopt a system that denies fundamental freedoms to its people and attacks those who seek justice and liberty, Ros-Lehtinen added. Maduro's comrades-in-arms, the Castro brothers, have labeled me as La Loba Feroz (The Ferocious She-Wolf) so I'm honored that another thug would target me for trying to be a voice for the Venezuelan people who are currently suffering under this brutal regime. But I will not be deterred and will continue to push for sanctions for human rights violators in Venezuela.