WASHINGTON _ Unsatisfied with the lack of answers about mysterious sonic attacks on U.S. and Canadian diplomats and their families in Havana, a group of Cuban-American House members are calling on the Government Accountability Office to investigate the State Department's actions on the matter.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican and former head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Rep. Albio Sires of New Jersey, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, demanded to know more about the department's policies and procedures for responding to the attack; how many private citizens may have suffered similar symptoms; and what steps are being taken to relay information about the attacks to other U.S. personnel around the world and make changes to protect them.
"With more than 24 American diplomats and their family members now having received treatment due to the attacks in Cuba, we want to ensure that the State Department responded appropriately and has implemented proper procedures should additional incidents occur in the future," Ros-Lehtinen and Sires said in a joint statement.
All five Cuban-Americans from the House signed the letter, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Alex Mooney, R-W.Va.
State Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A series of mysterious "sonic" attacks began months ago and has affected as many as 25 U.S. personnel. According to one source, U.S. intelligence operatives were the first known Americans affected. The most recent incidents were reported within the last few weeks.
The United States still does not know the nature of the device or weapon being employed against its staff.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration kicked nearly two-thirds of Cuba Embassy personnel out of the United States after pulling many American diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
The State Department has not accused Cuba of being behind the incidents. But it has repeatedly warned that Havana is responsible for the safety of foreign diplomats on its soil under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations.
Ros-Lehtinen and Sires said they want the GAO to investigate the timeline of events, how State responded when the attacks began, and what steps State took to address the medical needs of U.S. personnel and citizens.
"It is not new that the Castro regime undermines our national security at every turn and has always posed a threat to U.S. citizens in Cuba so it is no surprise that Havana cannot protect and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel under its Vienna obligations," Ros-Lehtinen and Sires said. "We must ensure that the necessary policies are in place to ensure the safety of our government personnel and all U.S. citizens overseas."
