Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to the Nomination of Mauricio Claver-Carone as President of the Inter-American Development Bank

Washington, D.C- Last month, the Trump administration announced its decision to nominate Mauricio Claver-Carone, the current head of Western Hemisphere affairs at the National Security Council, as president of the Inter-American Development Bank, departing from precedent that the bank would be led by a Latin American. Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement in response: 

"I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration has decided to nominate Trump Administration senior official Mauricio Claver-Carone for the presidency of the IDB," said Congresswoman Lee. “Claver-Carone is an architect of some of President Trump's most ideological policies in the Americas, and this move risks undermining the institution of the IDB. Most importantly, the Trump Administration has chosen for the first time ever to overlook talented and accomplished leadership from within Latin American and the Caribbean. The vote is set to come at a time of economic chaos and political uncertainty. The global economy is roiling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Latin America and the Caribbean will need steady and experienced leadership at the IDB to aid in the region's recovery. I urge the President to reconsider this decision."