Venezuela’s Rodriguez

Mar 06, 2026 Editorial, News

(Kaieteur News) – The US Department of Justice refused to comment. The White House passed on the invitation to clear the air. The issue is whether Venezuela’s President Delcy Rodrigues is under the threat of a US criminal indictment being prepared. Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, was unambiguous on the issue: “completely FALSE, from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication.” Reuters is not budging, but standing firm with its story. Who is on the right side of truth relative to this development about a draft criminal indictment with President Rodriguez’s name on it?

Reuters has a well-earned reputation for responsible reporting of breaking news. Breaking news that powerful politicians prefer to be kept out of broadcast channels. The fact that the US Justice Department preferred not to respond wasn’t the most convincing of postures. And when the White House didn’t go into full attack mode, that adds another layer of suspicion of what cloud could be hanging over the head of Delcy Rodriguez. It might have been better for Deputy Attorney General Blanche to hold his end of the wall of silence, for he is known to be one of the ranking officials at Justice who will attack anything that looks menacing, and defend what is indefensible. We appreciate that it could be detrimental to the progress of any criminal indictment in motion for money laundering and corruption to speak too soon as that would alert those on the radar. Having said that, we would also say that where there are whiffs of smoke, fire could be right below the surface. If accurate, how much heat from the US can President Rodriquez absorb, survive?

According to the Reuters report, work on the draft US criminal indictment has been going on for two months, and the Venezuelan president has been notified. If that is so, then the Deputy Attorney General’s denial has no meaning, since the quarry and her inner circle have been informed. Also, we do not believe that the sinews behind this indictment were developed in the last 60 days. Either she was or wasn’t involved in money laundering and corruption at the national oil company, PDVSA, before she was installed by the US as the successor Venezuelan president following the overnight removal of Nicolas Maduro.

This raises troubling questions about the actions of the US, in the context of Venezuela and its governance. It is a country whose people has suffered under the crippling yoke of sanctions. A country where the institutions of democracy struggled to gain traction, were unable to register a footprint. A country where there were allegations of massive corruption under the heavy hand of Maduro and his gang of aiders and abettors. Smuggling, money laundering, and corruption were inseparably attached to Maduro, as alleged by the US, right up to the White House. A country where a sizable section of its citizens dispersed to escape the poverty and fear foisted on them by a ruthless Maduro and his willing henchmen. So, what did the US do in the case of Nicolas Maduro and Delcy Rodriguez? Did it knowingly swap one corrupt leader for another, as alleged? Did the US do so, knowing that it has Rodriguez where it wanted, i.e., a prisoner at its beck and call, especially in relation to the vital oil industry of Venezuela? Was the US in this position (possessed the knowledge of her corruption) when it removed Maduro, but still continued with seating her as president? What if there is that other side of this corruption, regime change, and replacement story?

Meaning that President Delcy Rodriguez cannot deliver Venezuela’s oil industry lock, stock, and barrel to the US. Either because she is unwilling to be in that totally cooperative mode, or because she is prevented from doing so by forces more powerful than her shaky presidency? It is obvious that something is not going according to US plans for Venezuela. Delcy Rodriquez could have grown tired with her role of coconspirator and collaborator (dirty words) against her country’s interests. Since the removal of Maduro, unrest has stirred in Venezuela. Reuters could be onto something, with the sword of seeming blackmail now hanging over Delcy Rodriguez’s head.

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Delcy Rodrigues, Editorial, US criminal indictment, Venezuela

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