U.S. Congress Blocks Foreign Assistance to Dominican Republic Over Extradition Request (IVB)

In February 2000, Representative Benjamin A. Gilman, chair of the House Committee on International Relations, blocked $6 million in aid to the Dominican Republic unless it surrenders Carlos Grullón, a fugitive from a 1991 murder charge in Rep. Gilman’s district, Westchester County, New York. Rep. Gilman announced the move after he failed to receive a response to two letters he wrote to Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández Reyna. According to Lester Munson, a spokesman for Mr. Gilman, the attempt to force an extradition by withholding aid was very unusual and was the first time the U.S. has invoked it…[more]