Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, will lead Democrats on the committee in holding a special meeting on Venezuela.

Despite repeated requests from Ranking Member Meeks, Chairman Brian Mast has refused to hold public hearings on the administration’s actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela policy. Secretary of State Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Landau have turned down an invitation to attend this special meeting and answer questions publicly about the administration’s objectives in Venezuela. The meeting will be an opportunity for HFAC Members to gather assessments from former diplomats to the region. 

Members of the press wishing to cover the event in person should RSVP with Andrei Vasilescu and Josh Schroeder.

The hearing will also be available to livestream here. 

WHO:  

• The Honorable Thomas Shannon, former Acting Secretary of State, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs 

• The Honorable Frank Mora, former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs 

• Mr. Brian Finucane, Senior Adviser, U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group and former attorney adviser in the Office of the State Department Legal Adviser 

WHEN: Wednesday, January 14th at 8:30 a.m. 

WHERE: Rayburn, 2168 “Gold Room”