NEW from me:
Alan Gross, an American who was a prisoner in Cuba, said that when Sen. Bernie Sanders visited him behind bars, the senator commended the Communist country, saying:
"I don't know what's so wrong with this country."
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
Alan Gross, an American who was a prisoner in Cuba, said that when Sen. Bernie Sanders visited him behind bars, the senator commended the Communist country, saying:
"I don't know what's so wrong with this country."
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
Sanders visited Cuba as part of a congressional delegation in 2014, along with Sens. Heidi Heitkamp and Jon Tester.
"How could he be so insensitive to make that remark to a political hostage — me!" Gross told NPR
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
"How could he be so insensitive to make that remark to a political hostage — me!" Gross told NPR
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
Gross spent 1,841 days in detention, losing five teeth and over 100 pounds. He also said interrogators threatened to pull out his fingernails and to hang him.
In prison pajamas, he met with the Congressional delegation. Sanders was mostly silent until he blurted out at the end.
In prison pajamas, he met with the Congressional delegation. Sanders was mostly silent until he blurted out at the end.
Gross' claim - that Sanders commended Cuba to an American detained in a Cuban prison - follows other positive comments Sanders has made about dictatorial regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua and the Soviet Union over the course of his decades-long political career
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
Gross said that he felt compelled to speak out about Sanders' comments now because of the interview that the senator gave to 60 Minutes that touched on Cuba, and Sanders' reference to the issue in the debates.
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
"I mean, it's relevant now. The guy's running for president of the United States," Gross said. "And for him to make those statements demonstrating a basic lack of a grasp on reality is problematic to me. I don't want to see this guy in the White House."
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
A source close to Heitkamp said she remembered that Sanders seemed to disregard the meeting with Gross and that an uncomfortable exchange occurred, but did not remember the exact remark.
Sanders' campaign declined to comment about the meeting with Gross
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
Sanders' campaign declined to comment about the meeting with Gross
npr.org/2020/03/04/811…
When Sanders visited Gross in a Cuban prison, he brought a copy of The Atlantic magazine.
Graeme posits what the cover of that magazine might have been based on the time:
Graeme posits what the cover of that magazine might have been based on the time:
