Washington, December 21 (RHC)-- The outgoing administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on three Nicaraguan officials over their support for President Daniel Ortega's government.  The Trump administration has made a series of sanctions announcements since losing to Democrat Joe Biden in the disputed November 3rd election.  Biden is scheduled to be sworn in to office on January 20th.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday said it imposed sanctions on officials including the vice president of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court in an attempt to target those who help the Ortega government, Reuters reported.

“This Administration remains committed to targeting the Ortega regime by seeking out and exposing those who continue to suppress the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

Marvin Ramiro Aguilar Garcia, Vice President of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court of Justice; Walmaro Antonio Gutierrez Mercadeo, a National Assembly deputy; and Fidel De Jesus Dominguez Alvarez, chief of the national police in the city of Leon, are the officials blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury.

Journalist and political analyst Don DeBar commented on why Washington is targeting President Ortega's government.  He said: “Part of it is domestic political considerations. You have the 'Contra-in-Exile' community in Florida, for example, who have helped place some of the ‘gusano’ politicians in office like Marco Rubio, likewise Ted Cruz in Texas.  Then there are the corporations that used to super-exploit workers in Nicaragua the way they are super-exploited in Honduras, Columbia, Guatemala, etc., and they want their pound of flesh back.”

“And then there are the ideologues who cannot tolerate anyone exercising self-determination or sovereignty in opposition to control from Washington.  Especially in the Western Hemisphere,” DeBar added.