U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud is joining a chorus of high-profile voices in Washington now speaking publicly about the plight of six Citgo executives being held indefinitely without a trial in Venezuela.
<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Alirio Zambrano sent this selfie from Caracas to his family back in the states. It is the last photo they have of the man, who is among the group jailed in Venezuela known as the “Citgo 6.” (COURTESY: Alexandra Zambrano Forseth)The men, known as the “Citgo 6,” include Corpus Christi’s Alirio Zambrano. Zambrano is one of five American citizens included in the group. The men are accused of embezzling from the company, which is owned by the Venezuelan government.
<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Citgo executive Alirio Zambrano (right) with daughter, Vanessa, remains in a Venezuelan jail with other members of the Citgo 6. (COURTESY: Alexandra Zambrano Forseth)Zambrano’s family for months have been speaking against the incarceration, telling 6 Investigates the horror for themselves, their father and the other families, is extreme.
Now, Cloud says the men – who are malnourished and face medical issues – are getting a little more help from official sources.
“We are working with the (U.S.) State Department, ” Cloud tells6 Investigates. “Right now to the best knowledge we have – is that they are receiving food. They are receiving the medical attention – the best as Venezuela has to offer at the time – through their attorneys.”
<figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Corpus Christi Citgo employee Alirio Zambrano is one of the “Citgo 6” being held in Caracas, Venezuela. (KRIS file photo)Alirio Zambrano’s oldest daughter, Alexandra Forseth, says they remain grateful for – and in need of – all the support.
Forseth says the weekly calls the jailers once allowed the men to make to their families were cut off five weeks ago. She also says Citgo has not yet responded to the families’ many requests for a meeting with the company to discuss the men’s incarceration.
