Michael Moore Under Investigation for Traveling to Cuba

CUBA, May 11, 2007.-  US filmmaker Michael Moore may become the next victim of the American travel ban against Cuba, as the US Treasury Department has begun a probe into his recent trip to the island.

The movie director, known for his outspoken critical views on various US and international policies, has been placed under the microscope for traveling to Havana in March without government approval, which is considered a violation of the US economic blockade against Cuba.  Americans are prohibited from traveling to the island without a government license.

Moore went to the island to work on his most recent movie, “Sicko”, which critiques the American health care system by contrasting it to Cuba’s. 

According to the Granma newspaper, the filmmaker was accompanied by several 9/11 rescue workers who apparently received medical assistance on the island.

In a letter dated May 2, the US Treasury Department warned the director that “US citizens face civil and or criminal penalties for unauthorized travel to the communist country,” AP reported.

The letter demanded Moore provide details about the trip, including travel dates, people on the trip, lodging and food receipts, and even reasons why he might have qualified for a journalist's license to travel to Cuba.

The official letter, signed by the US Treasury Departments chief of general investigations and field operations, threatened the filmmaker with civil sanctions if he did not respond to the inquiry.

“Sicko” premieres May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival and debuts in US theaters June 29.(Cubaminrex-ACN).