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Ambassador Henry Wooster Named Chargé d’Affaires in Haiti; Colonel Rudy Moise Ideal Pick for Ambassador

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (FNN) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that Ambassador Henry Wooster will assume the role of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, effective June 12, 2025. The move comes as the U.S. navigates Haiti’s deepening crisis and awaits the nomination of a permanent ambassador to lead the mission.

Ambassador Wooster, a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in conflict zones and international affairs, previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Jordan and in several senior State Department roles. He steps in at a time when Haiti faces intensifying political unrest, rampant gang violence, humanitarian emergencies, and the ongoing fallout from the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

U.S. Air Force Colonel Rudy Moise (R) at his retirement ceremony in Homestead, Florida.

As the U.S. works to stabilize relations and support Haiti’s fragile government, momentum is building for a permanent ambassadorial nomination. One name dominating those discussions is Colonel Rudy Moise — A Haitian-American physician, attorney, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former Ambassador-at-Large for the Republic of Haiti, and respected community leader based in Miami.

Haitian-American leaders, elected officials, and national security observers are calling on the Trump administration to move swiftly and nominate Moise, citing his cultural fluency, decades of public service, and trusted leadership in both the Haitian and American communities. Supporters argue that Moise’s military background, diplomatic experience as a former Haitian Ambassador at Large, and deep ties to Haiti make him uniquely qualified to navigate one of the most difficult diplomatic assignments in the Western Hemisphere.

For now, Ambassador Wooster is tasked with managing U.S. diplomatic operations in Haiti and coordinating with international partners to address security, humanitarian aid, and governance restoration efforts. However, pressure is mounting on the White House and State Department to fill the post permanently — and decisively — as Haiti’s crisis escalates.

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Politics

State Rep. Angie Nixon Condemns Deadly ICE Shooting, Calls for Independent Investigation

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Following the fatal shooting of 52-year-old father and construction worker Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Houston, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Florida State Representative Angie Nixon released the following statement:

Statement from Rep. Angie Nixon

“Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was a father who spent decades building homes and providing for his family. He was fatally shot in the street by an ICE agent operating from an unmarked vehicle. My heart breaks for his wife and three sons.

“Our nation faces a moral choice. We must stop investing billions of taxpayer dollars in an agency that, in my view, terrorizes communities, operates with too little accountability, and often conducts enforcement actions without body cameras or clear identification. Those resources should instead be invested in strengthening our communities and helping families meet their basic needs. I believe ICE should be abolished.

“I stand in full solidarity with Lorenzo’s family in calling for a fully independent and transparent investigation into his death. I also call for the immediate release of his brother and the other individuals who were detained during this incident if they are being held without legal justification.”

Key Points

  • Rep. Angie Nixon expressed condolences to the family of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
  • She called for a fully independent and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting.
  • Nixon criticized ICE’s enforcement practices and renewed her call to abolish the agency.
  • She urged the release of Lorenzo’s brother and others detained during the incident if their continued detention is not legally justified.

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US NATIONAL NEWS

U.S. Expands Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Financial Networks and Regime Financiers

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WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The Trump administration announced a new round of sanctions Friday targeting individuals and businesses accused of helping finance Iran’s ruling elite and facilitating international financial transactions on behalf of the Iranian regime.

The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, target a global financial network that U.S. officials say supports Iran’s Supreme Leader and other senior regime officials.

Global Financial Network Targeted

According to the administration, the sanctions focus on Ali Ansari, a Dubai-based Iranian national accused of managing an extensive network of real estate and commercial holdings across multiple countries on behalf of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and other regime insiders.

U.S. officials said the network includes assets and business interests in:

  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • Spain
  • Cyprus
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Other international jurisdictions

The administration alleges the network has been used to help Iranian regime officials maintain access to international financial markets.

Currency Exchange Houses Sanctioned

The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on three Iran-based currency exchange firms and their associated leadership:

  • Mohammad Darbani and Partners
  • Lavasani and Partners
  • Mohsen Khandan and Partners

The sanctions also extend to the firms’ managing partners and affiliated front companies.

According to the administration, these entities allegedly enabled Iran to obtain foreign currency and conduct international financial transactions despite existing U.S. sanctions.

Administration Cites Maximum Pressure Campaign

The White House said the latest designations are part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to increase economic pressure on Iran.

Administration officials said they will continue targeting individuals, businesses and financial institutions—including foreign entities—that facilitate illicit Iranian commerce or assist the regime in evading U.S. sanctions.

The administration maintains that the sanctions are intended to pressure Iran to end what it describes as destabilizing activities in the region and to hold accountable those who enable corruption within the Iranian government.

Authorities Used for Sanctions

The sanctions were imposed under multiple executive authorities, including:

  • Executive Order 13902, targeting Iran’s financial and petroleum sectors.
  • Executive Order 13876, focusing on Iran’s Supreme Leader and affiliated individuals.
  • Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, which provides counterterrorism sanctions authority.

Treasury officials said the latest designations build upon previous actions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeting Iran’s shadow banking system and currency exchange networks.

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US NATIONAL NEWS

White House: Trump Administration Deports Convicted Child Sex Offender After Minnesota Pardon

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WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The White House announced Friday that the Trump administration deported a Laotian national convicted of sexually abusing a child after Minnesota officials granted him a pardon.

 

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