Former U.S. Ambassador Manuel Rocha recently pled guilty to anti-American espionage, having acted as a spy for the Cuban regime.
Rocha’s criminal activities, which went undiscovered for decades, are bound by statutes of limitation that restrict prosecutors from charging offenders after a certain period. Cases like Rocha’s highlight the need for stronger deterrents against espionage.
In response, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and James Lankford (R-OK) have introduced the Strengthening Prosecution Integrity for Espionage Statutes (SPIES) Act. This legislation aims to deter anti-American espionage by removing the statute of limitations for such crimes.
“America must do everything in its power to deter its enemies, including spies seeking to harm our nation and threaten our interests through espionage activity,” said Senator Rubio. “Many bad actors are not punished for their crimes due to the existing statute of limitations for certain offenses. My SPIES Act would ensure foreign agents are punished for aiding foreign governments against the United States, regardless of how many years have passed.”
“Espionage is a serious crime, and foreign agents stealing sensitive information can cause immense harm to the United States and our interests,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would help crack down on espionage-related crimes by eliminating the statute of limitations, ensuring that perpetrators can be brought to justice no matter how much time has passed.”
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“Spies who target our nation’s national security should be held accountable, no matter how long ago it happened,” said Senator Lankford. “Oklahomans want to know bad actors will face consequences. The SPIES Act ensures every spy knows America will never stop pursuing them.”
The SPIES Act aims to ensure that individuals who infiltrate the U.S. government and act as foreign agents can be prosecuted regardless of how much time has elapsed since their offenses, strengthening national security and deterring future espionage activities.
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