Four U.S. lawmakers Monday visited an American serving a 15-year prison term in Cuba, urging Havana and Washington to begin negotiations “without preconditions” to secure his release.
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“We truly believe it is time for both countries to commit to negotiations without preconditions and we will tell the White House on our return,” said Lee, who has visited Cuba in the past to promote dialogue between the neighbors.

Havana has suggested they might swap Gross’s freedom if Washington freed the remaining “Cuban Five” intelligence agents, who were convicted in a 1998 U.S. spy case. Two have been released after serving their sentences.

Havana acknowledges that the five men were agents but says they were spying on “terrorist” exiles and hails them as national heroes.

But Washington has rejected the possibility.