Jan 19 Trump in final parting shot hits Venezuela with sanctions By Scott Smith, Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Trump leaves office Wednesday, but he's led an international coalition over two years aimed at pressuring Maduro from power. The U.S. backs his leading opponent, Juan Guaidó. Continue reading
Jan 11 Trump hits Cuba with new sanctions in waning days By Matthew Lee, Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the step on Monday, citing in particular Cuba's continued harboring of U.S. fugitives as well as its support for Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Continue reading
Jan 05 Venezuela’s socialists take control of once-defiant congress By Jorge Rueda, Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Nicolás Maduro was set to extend his grip on power Tuesday as the ruling socialist party prepared to assume the leadership of Venezuela's congress, the last institution in the country it didn't already control. Continue reading
Oct 05 Court ruling casts doubt over control of Venezuelan gold held by Bank of London By Scott Smith, Associated Press The appeals court ruling set aside a British judge's earlier decision granting control of the bullion to U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Continue reading
Sep 26 Informant in top Venezuela case lied to feds By Joshua Goodman, Associated Press A key informant against one of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s closest aides has been accused of lying to his law enforcement handlers in a case involving millions of dollars transported on private jets in violation of U.S. sanctions. Continue reading
Aug 04 State Department official confirms U.S. will extend support for Venezuela’s Guaidó By Scott Smith, Associated Press Sen. Chris Murphy said the rushed U.S. policy has allowed Maduro to label Guaidó an "American patsy" while hardening Russian and Cuban backing of Maduro. Continue reading
Jun 18 Trump sanctions target Venezuela’s link to Mexico By Scott Smith, Associated Press Focusing primarily on Mexico-based individuals, U.S. Treasury officials sanctioned three people and the companies they ran. They're all now blocked from doing any business with the United States or American citizens. Continue reading
Jun 16 Venezuela Supreme Court orders takeover of 2 major political parties By Associated Press Venezuela's Supreme Court, loyal to President Nicolás Maduro, on Tuesday ordered the takeover of two of the nation's most powerful political parties opposed to the socialist government ahead of parliamentary elections expected this year. Continue reading
May 12 Watch 6:30 Inside the botched Venezuela raid that Maduro is trying to exploit By Nick Schifrin, Ali Rogin The Trump administration has made no secret of its desire to depose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as his country spirals deeper into economic and humanitarian disaster. But earlier in May, a seemingly private operation to invade and kidnap Maduro shocked… Continue watching
May 07 Democrats press Trump for answers on foiled Venezuela raid By Joshua Goodman, Associated Press Three Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are demanding answers from the Trump administration about how much it knew about an attempted raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading