A U.S. Treasury Department investigation has found Jay-Z and Beyoncé did not violate sanctions law when they took a controversial anniversary trip to Cuba last year that raised questions over the couple’s relationship with President Obama.
The U.S. trade embargo against Cuba means that most Americans can’t freely travel there without first having a special license granted by the federal government.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé had obtained permission to visit Cuba from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), under a license that allows cultural exchanges, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The hip-hop power couple celebrated their fifth-anniversary in Havana, sparking backlash from critics who complained that celebrities receive special treatment from the U.S. government.
OFAC determined that Beyoncé and Jay-Z had not violated sanctions rules, but several lawmakers asked the Treasury Department to conduct an investigation. That investigation released Wednesday said OFAC’s determination “was reasonable” and that the couple did not violate the law,” The Journal reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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