UPDATE: Former Attorney General William Barr has expressed a strong belief that deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro will be convicted, potentially receiving a sentence akin to that of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. This revelation comes as Maduro faces serious federal drug trafficking charges following his capture by U.S. forces in Caracas during a weekend operation.
In an interview with “Fox News Sunday,” Barr stated he has “a high degree of confidence” that Maduro will “ultimately be convicted,” drawing parallels between Maduro’s case and Noriega’s prosecution from decades past. Noriega was convicted on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, and received a 40-year prison sentence, of which he served 17 years before dying in 2017.
Barr, who oversaw Maduro’s indictment in 2020, noted that the legal arguments against Maduro are similar to those used in Noriega’s case. He emphasized that actions directed against the United States by foreign entities can lead to U.S. jurisdiction and pose national security threats. “It’s become necessary sometimes in carrying out law enforcement or suppressing banditry … to change a regime,” Barr asserted, referencing historical U.S. actions.
Maduro, during his first court appearance in New York City, pleaded not guilty to charges including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country,” he declared, despite the serious allegations against him. Federal prosecutors accuse Maduro of leading a cocaine-trafficking network that collaborates with international drug cartels.
In the wake of Maduro’s capture, Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s vice president, has assumed the role of interim president. Her government has indicated a desire to cooperate with U.S. authorities, signaling a potential shift in Venezuela’s political landscape.
As these developments unfold, the implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations and the future of Maduro’s regime remain critical. Observers are keenly watching for further movements from the U.S. government on this front.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to develop.
