Beyonce and Jay Z Cleared of Violating Sanctions Laws in Cuba Visit

Several Republicans criticized the famous couple for a trip they took to Cuba to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary

The Treasury Department said Wednesday that there was “no indication” that Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and her husband Jay-Z (Sean Carter) violated U.S. sanctions in Cuba in 2013.

The announcement Wednesday comes a year and four months after the famous couple took to a trip to the country to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.
The department’s inspector general concluded that the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which issues licenses to organizations that sponsor educational exchange programs in Cuba, was “reasonable” for having passed on a formal investigation into the Carters’ visit, despite speculation in the media implying suspicious motives.

In April 2013, three Cuban-American Republicans—Sen. Marco Rubio and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart—raised concerns that the Administration wasn’t properly enforcing the travel regulations between the U.S. and Cuba. At the time, the Treasury Department countered that the Carters’ trip was legal under a cultural exchange program.

Brushing off Republican speculation about his Cuban getaway, Jay-Z released “Open Letter,” featuring the lyrics: Obama said 'chill, you gonna get me impeached'. But you don't need this s**t anyway. Chill with me on the beach" and "Boy from the hood but got White House clearance."

He also rapped: "Politicians never did sh*t for me. Except lie to me, distort history. Wanna give me jail time and a fine. Fine, let me commit a real crime. I might buy a kilo for Chief Keef. Out of spite, I just might flood these streets" threatening to flood the streets of America with cocaine. Jay-Z's career was started with ill-gotten money he made from selling crack-cocaine. Rather than repent of those ways and denounce them, which would be the right thing to do, Jay-Z continues to glorify said negativity.

Back then, reports suggested that Beyonce and Jay-Z had a welcome dinner, watched students' theater performances and artwork, and had an architectural tour around the Old City of Havana. "All of these activities serve the U.S. foreign policy goal of heeling the Cuban people by facilitating exchanges with them and supporting the development of independent activity and civil society."