Beyonce and Jay Z's 2013 Cuba trip declared legal
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- There had been rumblings that the couple's 2013 trip violated U.S. sanctions
- Jay Z previously responded to critics with an open letter and a new song
- The Treasury Department declared the trip legal and in compliance
(CNN) -- Beyonce and Jay Z don't have to be "On the Run" anymore.
A nine-page report
released on Wednesday by the Treasury Department's Office of Inspector
General states that the power couple, whose legal names are Beyonce
Knowles-Carter and Shawn Carter, did not violate any U.S. sanctions laws
during their visit to Cuba last year.
Their April 2013 trip, around the time of their fifth wedding anniversary, was highly criticized.
It sparked discussion that the two might have engaged in tourist
activities that are illegal under the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Under
current law and regulation, travel to the island nation is only
permitted under license.
The report states that
the couple's trip to Cuba was properly licensed by the Office of Foreign
Assets Control under the "people-to-people" educational exchange
program. The license was issued to a nonprofit organization that has a
mission to promote education in the fields of art, architecture and the
decorative arts.
There were concerns that
the two might have abused the terms of the license by engaging in too
many tourist activities such as a welcome dinner, a walking tour of
various Cuban neighborhoods and visits to see student artwork and
theater performances. But, the report concludes that all activities
followed the terms of the license.
"We believe OFAC's
determination that there was no apparent violation of U.S. sanctions
with respect to Jay Z and Beyonce's trip to Cuba," the report states.
The criticism following the couple's trip prompted Jay Z to respond to detractors with an open letter.
The rapper also recorded a song called "Open Letter" that
slammed critics who suggested the couple's clearance came from their
pal President Barack Obama in the White House rather than the Treasury
Department.
In the song, Jay Z raps,
"Obama said, 'chill you gon' get me impeached. You don't need this s**t
anyway. Chill with me on the beach.' "
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