Cuban govt. responds to ex-Pres Castro’s historic indic… — Transcript

A historic indictment in the decades-long contentious relationship between the United States and Cuba. Just a short time ago, the Department of Justice unsealed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro. Prosecutors are charging him with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of an aircraft, and four counts of murder. Acting Attorney General Todd Bland said this to Cuban Americans who have been demanding justice for years. We also do not forget the families, the loved ones, and the friends who have carried grief and heartache for 30 years.

destruction of an aircraft, and four counts of murder. Acting Attorney General Todd Bland saying this to Cuban Americans who have been demanding justice for years. We also do not forget the families, the loved ones and the friends who have carried grief and heartache for 30 years.

For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in this country, in the United States of America, for acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens. Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans. Let's get reaction on this historic indictment live from Havana with CNN's Patrick Ottman. Patrick, how are Cuban officials reacting to these new criminal charges?

get reaction on this historic indictment live from Havana with CNN's Patrick Ottman. Patrick, how are Cuban officials reacting to these new criminal charges? We're finally getting some reaction after really silence all day long that this indictment was coming as everyone has has

We're finally getting some reaction after really silence all day long that this indictment was coming, as everyone has known for days. And this is Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel. I'll just read a little bit of it, but he says that the indictment against Raul Castro, quote, just announced by the U.S. government only reveals the arrogance and frustration that the representatives of the empire feel toward the unyielding resolve of the Cuban revolution. He goes on to say that there's no legal basis, that Cuba 30 years ago was defending itself against the Brothers to the Rescue planes, which, as we know, were unarmed, but the Cuban government had accused them of coming into Cuban airspace previously.

unyielding resolve of the Cuban revolution. He goes on to say that there's no legal basis that Cuba 30 years ago was defending itself against the brothers to the rescue planes, which you know, as we know, were unarmed, but the Cuban government had accused them of coming into Cuban airspace

So officials here are very angry. They're not surprised by this. Certainly after we saw Nicolas Maduro get taken by U.S. special forces at the beginning of the year, they have known that this could be coming, that this was in the works. They have been threatened by the U.S., as we have seen this relentless pressure campaign go on to try and force Cuban government officials to make larger concessions to the United States to open up their political and economic system here, something they've refused to do now as they have engaged with the Trump administration. But negotiations just really don't seem to have gone anywhere.

by the US uh as we have seen this relentless pressure campaign go on to try and force Cuban government officials to make larger concessions to the United States to open up their political and economic system here. something they've refused uh to do now uh as they have engaged with the

And the question is now, does this added pressure and indictment of not only a former president but still the most powerful person on this island, the individual who is head of the military that has handpicked every political and military leader that is in power at this point, that officials tell us still oversees all the major decisions from retirement that this island takes, particularly when it comes towards relations with the U.S. Does indicting him make a deal more likely or is it less likely there?

uh every political and military leader that is in power at this point. uh that officials tell us still oversees all the major decisions from retirement that this island takes particularly when it comes towards relations with the US. You does indicting him make a deal more more likely or

There is a lot to say about the fact that Cuba feels that an invasion is coming. You see every day officials telling their population to get ready. There are military maneuvers taking place. So certainly what the Cuban officials are telling their people, who are very worried about this, not particularly about what it's going to happen to officials but what it means for themselves, already an island that is on the point of breaking. You know, if there is some sort of attack on this island, what would that mean for them? Already power is off most of the day, food has become more scarce and expensive, so there is a lot of concern amongst regular Cubans about how this could impact them if the breakdown of law and order of their government would essentially create a humanitarian crisis.

very worried about this not particularly about what it's going to happen to officials but what it means for themselves already an island uh that is on uh the point of breaking you know if there is some sort of attack on this island what would that mean for them already power is off most of

Patrick Ottman live for us in Havana. Thank you so much for that update. The acting AG Todd Bland was actually asked what was next? What was the next step in this? Would we see the United States intervene in Cuba and extradite the 94-year-old Castro the way that the U.S. did in Venezuela in its extradition of Nicolas Maduro? Here was his response.

much for that update. The acting AG Todd Blanch was actually asked what was next? What was the next step in this? Would we see the United States intervene in Cuba and extradite the 94year-old Castro the way that the US did in Venezuela in its extradition of Nicolas Maduro. Here

Yes, go ahead. Attorney General Gloria Ordas from Termundo Sinuno. Thank you for this opportunity. The next step is going to be an arrest warrant. And I ask you this because the Cuban exile would love to see Raul Castro in the same position as Nicolas Maduro, and a lot of legal experts that we have interviewed during these days have said that Raul Castro, that this indictment will be more symbolic than practice and that Raul Castro probably died in Cuba. What is your message for them?

and a lot of legal experts that we have interviewed during these days have said that Rahul Castro that this indictment will be more symbolic that than practice and that Rahul Castro probably died in Cuba. What is your message for them? Well, I'm not going to compare cases for

Well, I'm not going to compare cases for one, for two. Like I said a few minutes ago, we indict men who are not physically within the United States all the time. This is not a new endeavor or venture for us. And so, the way that we get people here who are charged with the crime varies. There's all kinds of different ways. And this is not, you know, there's an arrest warrant issued for a reason because we certainly expect and believe that Mr. Castro is entitled to his day in court right here in Miami.

way that we get people here who are charged with the crime varies. There's all kinds of different ways. and and this is not, you know, there's an arrest warrant issued for a reason because we we certainly expect and believe that Mr. Castro was entitled to his day in court right here

CNN senior national security reporter Jennifer Hansoff kicks off our coverage. So, Jennifer, just in terms of these criminal charges being announced against Raul Castro, I mean, this is all part of this pressure campaign, an economic pressure campaign and a political pressure campaign that the U.S. is really leveraging over the island. Just walk us through what we can actually expect from Todd Bland when we hear from him shortly.

political pressure campaign that the US is really leveraging over the island. just walk us through what we can actually expect from Todd Blanch uh when we hear from him shortly. Well, that's right, Zane. This is a significant escalation in that ongoing campaign against Havana. When we hear

Well, that's right, Zane. This is a significant escalation in that ongoing campaign against Havana. When we hear from Todd Bland, we expect him to kick off, of course, with the fact that they, the U.S., has now indicted the former president of Cuba, Raul Castro, stemming back toward that 1996 shootdown of a plane that killed three Americans. Now they have just unsealed that indictment against both Castro and five other defendants. The charges that were unveiled against Castro are conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft, and murder. So they are going to announce those charges.

and five other defendants. The charges that were unveiled against Castro are conspiracy to kill US nationals, destruction of aircraft and murder. So they are going to announce those charges. Among the other defendants is one of the pilots on the Cuban aircraft that did shoot down that US plane

Among the other defendants is one of the pilots on the Cuban aircraft that did shoot down that U.S. plane that was going towards Cuba for what they say was delivering humanitarian aid and assisting with a humanitarian effort. The Cubans at the time said that it was their airspace. The U.S. contends that that was international airspace in which they were shot down. Of course, this indictment is decades in the making, but the context of it being announced today is, of course, among that pressure campaign to try to drive out the Castro regime from the government of Cuba.

this indictment is decades in the making, but the context of it being announced today is of course among that pressure campaign to try to drive out the Castro regime from the government of Cuba.

This comes after hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a video message directly to the people of Cuba. He did this in Spanish. He was saying that the Trump administration is ready to work with the Cuban people and the only thing standing in the way is the government that is currently in charge. Take a listen to something else he said in that message.

that is currently in charge. Take a listen to something else he said in that message.

We are offering $100 million in food and medicine for you, the people, but they must be distributed directly by the Cuban people, by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable groups, not stolen by Gazo to sell in one of their stores. In the U.S., we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries. And currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.

new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries. And currently the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country. And of course it's significant too that he brings up that offer of humanitarian aid as this economic blockade on

And of course, it's significant too that he brings up that offer of humanitarian aid as this economic blockade on the island has continued to squeeze the situation on the ground. There are rolling blackouts. There are shortages of food. And Rubio and the Trump administration are trying to put the blame for that not on the administration's policies but on the Cuban government. What seems to be an attempt here to have the people of Cuba perhaps rise up.

here to have the people of Cuba perhaps rise up against their sitting government there. Now, of course, the other thing to note with this indictment is that this is following perhaps a similar playbook to what we saw in Venezuela where the United States leveled an indictment against

uh Nicholas Maduro only to then take military action to remove him from that country. Now, we don't know whether it's something like that is in the offing here in Cuba. However, President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that he could use military

force against the island. So, there is a lot here at play and the pressure is ratcheting up here with this indictment. Zayn Bana, Jennifer Hansler, thank