Justice Department to indict former Cuban President Raúl Castro: reports

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Sources say the Justice Department is preparing to announce an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro in relation to the 1996 shooting down of two planes carrying humanitarian aid. Three American pilots were killed in that incident. Castro is the brother of long-time Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

[00:00:19]Olivia Rubin has more on what we're expecting today.

[00:00:24]Today, sources tell ABC News the Justice Department is expected to announce a prosecution decades in the making. An indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro. The charges expected to include allegations of murder related to this incident in 1996.

[00:00:41]Two planes shot down resulting in the deaths of three American pilots. The planes were operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue and were delivering aid to desperate migrants. At the time, the Cuban government claiming the planes violated their airspace.

[00:00:58]These small airplanes were unarmed and clearly so.

[00:01:04]Cuban authorities knew that. Raul Castro was defense minister at the time. His brother, Fidel Castro, was president of Cuba. The humanitarian group at the time laying blame at their feet.

[00:01:16]>> I want also to make the point that this happened with the full knowledge and planning of the Castro government. The indictment coming as President Trump turns his attention to Cuba warning the country of possible US intervention.

[00:01:30]Does the president of Cuba have his days numbered?

[00:01:34]Well, that's for you. They're not doing well. Cuba is not doing well. It's a failed nation and we'll be talking about Cuba at the right time. And on Capitol Hill today, lawmakers praising the move.

[00:01:45]>> This was premeditated murder of three Americans and one US resident.

[00:01:53]Premeditated murder.

[00:01:55]Ordered as was known then and is known today by Raul Castro himself.

[00:02:04]Castro is 94 years old and lives in Cuba. Olivia Rubin, ABC News, Washington.