Norma Torres Questions Marco Rubio on Funds for El Salvador's "Bukele Regime"

Questioning El Salvador's Funding

• 🇺🇸 Representative Norma Torres questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the amount of money provided to what she termed the "Bukele regime" in El Salvador.
• 💰 Torres specifically asked how much money had been given, to which Rubio responded it was not a "regime" but an elected government.

Rubio's Defense of El Salvador's Government

• 🗳️ Rubio stated that President Bukele was elected by an enormous majority, and while acknowledging Torres's reasons for dislike, he argued it's unfair to label it a regime, contrasting it with Venezuela.
• ⚖️ He clarified that the funds provided were law enforcement funds, similar to those given to other countries under a specific program.

Discrepancy in Funding Amounts

• 💸 Rubio initially estimated the amount to be around $1.4 million but then recalled it might have been $15 million, promising to provide the exact figure.
• 🗓️ He indicated that while there might not be a "second round" per se, funds from 2024 and potentially 2025 could still be eligible, particularly for law enforcement purposes.

Concerns Over Due Process and Human Rights

• 🚫 Torres raised concerns that the Leahy Law prohibits sending money to countries that terrorize people or punish them without due process.
• ✅ Rubio countered that their assessment is that Bukele has cleaned up the country and rid it of gangs, transforming it from a dangerous place to one where people can walk the streets safely, with former gang members now in jail.