Alan Gross never debriefed after release from Cuba

Report reveals Jewish contractor yet to give account to US officials of his period of imprisonment

By JTA 2 July 2015, 9:58 pm

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This photo courtesy of the office of US Senator Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) Twitter account, shows Alan Gross and his wife Judith before departing from Cuba on December 17, 2014. (photo credit: AFP PHOTO/JEFF FLAKE/HANDOUT)

Alan Gross, the Jewish-American government contractor who was jailed in Cuba for five years as a spy, was never debriefed after his release from prison and return to the United States, according to a new report.

No US government official has debriefed Gross since his release from prison in Cuba more than nine months ago, the Daily Beast reported Thursday, citing an “authoritative source.” The report comes a day after President Barack Obama announced that the United States would open an embassy in Havana more than 50 years after diplomatic relations were severed. Cuba also plans to open an embassy in Washington.

While in prison it was rumored that Gross was an undercover CIA agent.

Both Jill Zuckman, Gross’ spokesperson, and Noel Clay, a State Department spokesperson, declined to comment on the issue to the Daily Beast.

Gross, 66, was released from prison in December. He was arrested in Cuba in 2009 and charged with crimes against the state after setting up internet access for the Jewish community there while working as a contractor for USAID. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was freed following an agreement by the US and Cuba to work towards renewing diplomatic relations and improving commercial ties.

In May, Gross spoke at a fundraiser for New Cuba PAC, which calls for easing trade and travel restrictions between the island nation and the United States.