Vic Mellor, a candidate for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, registered as a foreign agent for Cuba after a trip to Havana in late May. During this trip, he delivered humanitarian supplies and met with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Mellor submitted two Foreign Agent Registration Act filings on June 16, one naming Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other naming Rodriguez Castro, who is associated with Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior.
Mellor's filings indicate his work involved improving Cuban-American relations and developing content ideas. However, the Cuban-American National Chamber of Commerce, which Mellor claimed urged him to make the trip, stated that it did not endorse or encourage such meetings. The State Department has distanced itself from Mellor, stating he is not authorized to represent the U.S. government.
Mellor has defended his actions by stating he registered to comply with federal transparency laws and that he did not receive any payment for his activities. He is currently facing a primary challenge and must first secure his party's nomination before attempting to unseat incumbent Rep. Seth Magaziner. The political implications of his registration as a foreign agent are significant, as it raises questions about his candidacy and potential relationships with foreign officials.