WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday slapped financial sanctions on four members of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s inner circle, including his wife and the nation’s vice president, on allegations of corruption.
As part of the actions, the U.S. barred Americans from doing business with and will seize any financial assets in the U.S. belonging to First Lady Cilia Flores, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.
“We are continuing to designate loyalists who enable Maduro to solidify his hold on the military and the government while the Venezuelan people suffer,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement. “Treasury will continue to impose a financial toll on those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline, and the networks and front-men they use to mask their illicit wealth.”
Over the past two years the Trump administration has sanctioned dozens of individuals, including Maduro himself, on allegations of corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses.
But until now it had spared key leaders like Delcy Rodriguez, as well as the U.S.-trained Padrino, believing they occupy seats of power and could play a key role in an eventual transition.
David Smilde, a Tulane University professor who has spent more than two decades living and working in Venezuela, said Tuesday’s actions would seem to suggest the U.S. has given up trying to sow division within the government in the hopes it could force a democratic transition from within.
“This clearly breaks from that strategy, said Smilde. “If everyone is sanctioned then it could end up uniting the government.”
Trump, arriving at the United Nations General Assembly before his speech Tuesday, said Venezuela is “a very sad case and we want to see it fixed. What’s happening there is a human tragedy.”
But beyond rallying Maduro’s opponents, it’s unclear what impact the sanctions will have.
For over a year, top U.S. officials have struggled to build support for more sweeping oil sanctions, facing resistance from energy companies still active in the country and fearing it could tip the OPEC nation over the edge at a time of hyperinflation and widespread food and medicine shortages.
As part of the actions announced Tuesday, the Treasury Department also seized a $20 million private jet belonging to an alleged front man for powerful socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello.
“Treasury Department also seized a $20 million private jet belonging to an alleged front man for powerful socialist party boss…”
Bet Trump’s trying to figure out how to keep the jet for himself.
Don’t know about the rest of the World, but I love chocolate.
It’s official. We can call it L’Affaire de Cocoa.
In less than 20 years, Venezuela has gone from being one of the most successful democratic states and economies in South America to being an utterly failed state ruled by a dictator and his corrupt cabal of enablers.
This dictator was voted into office following on the popularity of a charismatic, nativist strongman who began the erosion of democracy with the support of a compliant legislature and a judiciary packed with loyalists. By the time the majority of the population finally realized they weren’t going to get the results they had been promised and voted in a majority opposition legislature, it was too late. The ruling party, with the support of the high courts, nullified the legislature and has kept control.
Not that anything like that could happen here.
"The Trump administration on Tuesday slapped financial sanctions on four
members of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s inner circle, including
his wife and the nation’s vice president, on allegations of
corruption. ’
more {AP}
Able Statesman Jared Kushner closes arms deal with entirely disinterested Saudi Arabia’s inner circle of power.