Political Betrayal Unveiled: Maduro Accuses Ex-Minister of Colluding with Opponents and U.S. Administration in Venezuela
Breaking News from Mexico City, Mexico, April 30, 2024 (our website)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claims former oil minister Tareck El Aissami conspired with political opponents and US government officials, stirring allegations of treason and assassination plots.
Last week, Maduro unveiled an ongoing investigation into El Aissami, who was detained earlier this month along with several associates, accused of a corruption scandal in the oil industry.
"Make no mistake, this isn't just about stolen and embezzled funds - it's about a mafia collaborating with the far-right to orchestrate coups and assassinations," Maduro said during his weekly television program.
The Venezuelan Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, released audio of conversations featuring opposition leaders Leopoldo López, Carlos Vecchio, and Samark López, among those detained alongside El Aissami.
Leopoldo López, a far-right opposition leader currently in exile in Spain, admitted to speaking with officials within Maduro's administration but refused to comment on the authenticity of any recorded conversations aimed at overthrowing the government.
Maduro's communications chief, Freddy Ñáñez, shared audio of an alleged phone conversation from 2020 between opposition figure Julio Borges and Samark López. In the leaked conversation, Borges revealed conversations with former US Ambassador to Venezuela, James "Jimmy" Story, about regime change plans.
El Aissami supposedly played a significant role in these regime change discussions through his influence within the government.
Maduro claims that El Aissami and his associates have been conspiring with the country's extremist opposition for years and had knowledge of the 2018 assassination attempt on the presidential stage. He also accused them of being aware of the April 30, 2019 coup attempt led by López and his protégé Juan Guaidó, as well as the details of the foiled Operation Gideon invasion scheme involving US mercenaries.
The arrest of El Aissami, Samark López, Simón Alejandro Zerpa (former Minister of Economy), and others earlier this month resulted in charges of misappropriation of public funds, influence trafficking, money laundering, and treason against El Aissami.
Maduro himself tweeted, "Corruption, treason, and conspiracy - these actions aim to harm the homeland and exploit trust for personal gain. We will continue to seek justice."
Reframing the investigation, Maduro referred to it as the PDVSA/Crypto case, involving allegations that at least $3 billion worth of crude sales were diverted via cryptocurrency schemes conducted through the National Crypto Asset Superintendence (Sunacrip).
Internal corruption andPayments delaysplagued PDVSA after US sanctions forced Venezuela to work with smaller, unreliable intermediaries in Asian markets, resulting in steep discounts. The unorthodox system led to increased corruption schemes within PDVSA.
El Aissami resigned following the launch of the probe in March 2023. Pedro Tellechea, the new oil minister and PDVSA president, subsequently suspended most oil and fuel exports to renegotiate contracts and secure more favorable conditions.
- Tareck El Aissami, the former Venezuelan oil minister, is accused by President Nicolás Maduro of conspiring with political opponents and US government officials, a claim that stirs allegations of treason and assassination plots.
- Maduro's claims against El Aissami are not just about embezzled funds; he believes the former minister was part of a mafia collaborating with the far-right to orchestrate coups and assassinations.
- The ongoing investigation by the Venezuelan government, which Maduro refers to as the PDVSA/Crypto case, involves allegations that at least $3 billion worth of crude sales were diverted through cryptocurrency schemes conducted through the National Crypto Asset Superintendence (Sunacrip).
- The arrest of El Aissami, along with several associates, resulted in charges of misappropriation of public funds, influence trafficking, money laundering, and treason.
- In the midst of political news, crime and justice, policy and legislation, general news, war and conflicts, and conspiracy theories, the superintendence of Venezuela's oil industry remains under scrutiny, with President Maduro continuing to seek justice concerning corruption and embezzlement.
