Trump and Venezuela's Rodriguez
Trump is taking it easy on the acting president of Venezuela. Why?
5/29/20262 min read
The Trump administration has discretely “suggested” federal prosecutors avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, a target of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration since 2018. The “order” to pause scrutiny could aid the administration’s efforts to stabilize Venezuela after the capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, and open the country to U.S. investment.
Or, in my opinion, it simply may be a tool used in order to keep Rodriguez in line with Trump’s empirical/dictatorial wishes – something he has kicked into high gear compared to past presidents.
Trump praised Rodríguez as a “terrific person” shortly after the U.S. military took Maduro and his wife to New York to face federal narcotics charges. The two have pleaded not guilty. Trump wrote on social media in early March, “The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both countries is a very nice thing to see!”
In recent months, the United States has lifted sanctions against Rodríguez and recognized her as Venezuela’s sole head of state, allowing her to reestablish ties with western banks and more freely work with U.S. investors seeking to tap into the world’s largest petroleum reserves. She has hosted ceremonies with a regular stream of American oilmen, with some partaking in high-profile delegations led by U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, and Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum.
What isn’t being addressed is the failure of meeting the 90-day limit set by Venezuela’s high court to fill Maduro’s position on a temporary basis. When asked by a U.S. journalist, Rodriguez stated, “I don’t know… sometime,” as to when an election would be held. Is this also what we can expect in Iran, and possibly Cuba should we invade?
Once again, “follow the money” seems to be more important than rule of law. Accusing countries of human rights abuses, dictatorial behavior, skirting their own laws, etc., seems to be a “spin the wheel and see where it lands” policy. The problem is… it always lands on money… for somebody that already has plenty.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), has accused the administration of favorable treatment of Rodríguez, calling her a “central figure in Nicolás Maduro’s repressive regime.” She also claimed there was “no indication [Rodriguez] has taken concrete and meaningful actions to restore democratic order.”
The DEA has amassed a detailed intelligence file on Rodríguez, which allegedly includes numerous claims ranging from involvement in drug trafficking to gold smuggling. Five years ago, one confidential informant told DEA that Rodríguez was using hotels in the Caribbean as a front to launder money.
Duncan Levin, a former prosecutor who worked for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn, said it would be “deeply troubling” for law enforcement to be told to stand down from a legitimate investigation for political or transactional reasons.
“The White House cannot use criminal enforcement as a diplomatic light switch,” Levin said. “DOJ decisions are supposed to be based on law, evidence, policy and public safety — not on whether a foreign official is useful to the administration at a given moment.” Sadly, politics rarely matches legality.
Source used: Associated Press
