Democrats press Trump for answers on foiled Venezuela raid

Three Democrats on Senate Foreign Relations Committee are demanding answers from Trump administration about how much it knew about an attempted raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an operation y said potentially violated U.S. law and ran counter to American support for negotiations to end South American country’s political standoff.

In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and Richard Grenell, acting director of national intelligence, lawmakers led by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed “alarm” about raid led by a former Green Beret and which has resulted in detention in Venezuela of two American citizens.

“Eir U.S. government was unaware of se planned operations, or was aware and allowed m to proceed,” according to letter sent Thursday. “Both possibilities are problematic.”

letter cited findings of an Associated Press investigation into Jordan Goudreau, who claimed responsibility for foiled incursion. AP investigation detailed how Goudreau, through his Florida private security firm, had teamed up with a retired Venezuelan army official to train at secret camps in Colombia dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces for a mission targeting Maduro, for whose capture U.S. has offered a $15 million bounty.

Trump has denied any U.S. involvement in raid and Goudreau has said he was unable to ever persuade Trump administration to support his bold plan for a private coup.

Maduro has insisted operation was directed by White House. Meanwhile, aides to Juan Guaidó, opposition leader recognized by U.S. and 60 or nations as Venezuela’s rightful leader, have ackwledged exploring idea last year but said y quickly backed out after deciding Goudreau couldn’t deliver or be trusted.

letter, which was also signed by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sen. Tom Yudall of New Mexico, cites provisions in VERDAD act, signed into law by Trump in late 2019, that state it is U.S. policy to support diplomatic engment to bring a negotiated and peaceful end to Venezuela’s political, ecomic and humanitarian crisis.

“Such incursions harm prospects for a peaceful democratic transition in Venezuela by insinuating that an armed intervention is a viable option to resolve crisis, potentially undermining willingness of hard-line opposition actors to negotiate, while simultaneously allowing Maduro to rally support to his side, strengning his hand,” lawmakers wrote.

letter contains six lines of questions about U.S. officials’ awareness of Goudreau’s plans and wher administration had taken any steps to prevent his actions and make sure U.S. assistance wasn’t directly or indirectly provided to those involved.

It also seeks intelligence community’s assessment about legitimacy of a contract that Goudreau has presented and that he says was signed by Guaidó and two Miami-based aides allegedly authorizing his actions.

“Maduro is a dictator, and Venezuelan people deserve to live in a democracy again,” Democrats wrote. “But that will only be achieved through vigorous and effective diplomacy, t martial adventurism.”

(Miraflores Palace presidential press office via AP)