As freed Cuban political prisoner faces eviction, where's Sen. Marco Rubio?

There has been a lot of press about the possible eviction of Ana Lazara Rodriguez from her longtime home.

The 82-year-old woman is not terribly unique in that hundreds if not thousands of Floridians like her have lost or are losing their homes due to some less-than-honest bank moves (more on that later). But she’s newsworthy, apparently, because she’s a Cuban anti-revolutionary activist who spent 19 years in prison under Fidel Castro, the longest period of any female political prisoner.

Rodriguez, who wrote a book about her ordeal, has had interviews on all the local news stations and in all the local newspapers about her present struggle to stay in the home she’s known for 12 years. She’s also garnered the Miami political support that would be expected of any exile cause.

Florida Senators Ileana Garcia (R-Coral Gables) and Annette Taddeo (D-Kendall) stood by her at a press conference. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez gave her a city proclamation.

But there is one voice that has been missing. Where is Sen. Marco Rubio? This seems like a no-brainer issue for him to redeem himself on. But no.

Brilla por su ausencia.

It’s not that Marquito doesn’t know about the situation. Ladra is certain he’s been briefed by his staff, if he hasn’t seen the coverage himself, and Rodriguez’s attorney, Bruce Jacobs, has contacted his office numerous times to see if he could intervene on her behalf. Nada. Crickets.

Ladra called his office to ask about it. Still waiting for a call back.

The Rodriguez case goes back to court this week for an emergency hearing Wednesday in front of Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Peter Lopez to stop the eviction. She could still lose her home of almost 30 years. Jacobs says Bank of America committed fraud and sold it from under her. Cuban exiles offered to buy the home, but the bank wanted $700,000, which was twice its value at the time.

Currently and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, only federally-backed loans have an eviction moratorium, Jacobs explained. “The other half of the mortgage market are still being evicted during the pandemic, including the subprime loan market made up mostly of communities of color, the elderly, and everyday American families,” he said.

“A fraudulent foreclosure is not due process. These same banks are presenting false evidence that violates the $25 Billion National Mortgage Settlement. Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase developed a fraudulent scheme to foreclose on homeowners using forgery, perjury and obstruction of justice,” Jacobs said.

“The mortgage industry is also presenting false testimony to get documents into evidence. None of this is due process. It is unconstitutional to deprive people of their homes without due process.”

Rodriguez is really stunned at how the great American justice system has failed her.

“The bank from the beginning never tried to help me,” Rodriguez told Ladra, her voice breaking with emotion. “I cannot understand why even the judge never tried to hear me.

“Once I went to the court and when I start talking, the judge told me, ‘The one who talks here is me. You only just say yes or no.’ I don’t know what happened. I don’t know the reason why they don’t want to help me. I have tried all these legal ways to save my house.”

Rodriguez had a message for Rubio: “Why does he refuse to hear me and why does he refuse to be on my side?”

Rubio has had plenty of time to weigh in on this case. And the clock is ticking.

¿Donde estás Marco Rubio?

Marco Rubio

As freed Cuban political prisoner faces eviction, where’s Sen. Marco Rubio? added by Ladra on April 13, 2021
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