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 "We found no indication that U.S. sanctions were violated,
and we concluded that the ... decision not to pursue a formal
investigation was reasonable," said the review by the Treasury
Department's Office of Inspector General dated on Wednesday.
The four-day visit in April 2013 was a cultural trip that was
fully licensed by the Treasury Department, organizers said at
the time.
The long-standing U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents most
Americans from traveling to the island without a license granted
by the U.S. government.
Two Cuban-American members of Congress, both Republicans
representing south Florida and supporters of a firm stance on
Cuba, had asked the Treasury Department for information on what
type of license the couple obtained for their trip.
Beyonce and Jay-Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in
Havana and were greeted by big crowds as they strolled through
the Cuban capital. They were instantly recognized despite the
past half-century of ideological conflict that separates the two
countries.
The visit was planned as a "people-to-people" cultural visit and
involved no meetings with Cuban officials, or typical tourist
activity such as trips to the beach, organizers said at the
time.
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The trip included visits with Cuban artists and musicians, as well
as several nightclubs where live music was performed, and some of
the city's best privately run restaurants, known as "paladares."
Beyonce and Jay-Z were among a bevy of American stars to visit the
island in recent years, joining actors Bill Murray, Sean Penn and
James Caan. But the pair were the first to cause such a stir
everywhere they went.
While it has kept the embargo in place, the Obama administration has
eased restrictions on travel to Cuba for academic, religious or
cultural programs.
(Reporting by David Adams; Editing by Eric Beech)
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