Florida is bringing a new criminal charge against former Cuban President Raúl Castro over the 1996 shooting down of two civilian planes that killed four people. Plus, a day in the campaigns of the candidates for St. Pete mayor.

Florida charges Raúl Castro in 1996 Brothers to the Rescue plane shootdown

Florida is bringing a new criminal charge against former Cuban President Raúl Castro over the 1996 shooting down of two civilian planes that killed four people.

Castro, now 95, is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The charge follows a federal indictment against Castro that was announced earlier this year.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, in Miami on Monday, said Castro is accused of authorizing the military attack against two unarmed planes operated by exiles known as Brothers to the Rescue.

“I’m not ignorant of the fact that Raul Castro is an older man who’s probably not looking to march himself into Miami,” Uthmeier said. “I think others would get him before the court of law would. But at the end of the day, we stand ready to prosecute the case. And I should say, we’re gonna continue investigating.”

It is unclear whether Castro will appear in a state or federal courtroom. Officials said the state charge could help strengthen the broader case against him.

“We’re committed to working with our state and local partners to pursue every lawful, prosecutable angle to bring accountability,” U.S. Attorney Jason Redding Quiñones said. “That includes parallel prosecutions when the law and evidence support them.”

The announcement also drew criticism from Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democratic candidate for Florida attorney general, who questioned its timing.

“He and his corrupt group in Tallahassee have had 30 years, seven months, and 25 days to act, but somehow chose the first day of early voting in Miami-Dade to make this announcement,” Rodriguez said in a statement to Spectrum News. “This is a smokescreen to distract from Hope Florida and Alligator Alcatraz. They’ve come to my community to mock us with these unserious displays rather than show us respect.” 

On the campaign trail in St. Pete

Moody, Nixon make final pitches to voters

The countdown is on to the midterm elections.

Monday, early voting began in most of our counties in the Bay area and in Central Florida. Early voting must begin throughout the state by Saturday.

Right now, candidates are out on the campaign trail making their final pitch to voters.

Sen. Ashley Moody held a campaign rally in Indian Rocks Beach on Monday with Republican U.S. Rep Anna Paulina Luna (Florida-District 13).

The topic of Hope Florida did not come up, but Moody admitted that she is in a close race and said it’s important that people vote. 

“We are gonna fight for Florida. This is one of the most important races in this state’s history,” Moody said. “We’re going to bring it home the next two weeks. We have to fight. We cannot give up. I am counting on you. Our state is counting on you. Our nation is counting on you. And we’ll keep fighting like mothers to defend you and the state.”

Luna is also running for re-election for congressional District 13

Over the weekend, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders came to Tampa to hold a campaign rally with Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon.

“You know, there have been many, many hundreds of elections throughout this country in this campaign cycle,” Sanders said. “But there is one election that seemed to be rather extraordinary. There was a candidate in the Democratic primary who was outspent 15 to 1. There was a candidate who had no establishment support. There was a candidate who created an extraordinary grassroots movement of working class people. And that candidate is Angie Nixon.

“Nobody thought that Angie could win the primary. People think she can’t win the general election. Let me tell you, they’re wrong. She’s the next U.S. senator.”