Joshua Goodman
@APjoshgoodman
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The Associated Press, ex Latin America correspondent based in Miami, a city settled by my fellow Clevelanders Tips via Signal: 786-643-1883 or [email protected]
Joined January 2012
Associated Press journalists spent more than two weeks aboard a ship off the coast of Antarctica for a rare, up-close look at the world’s most remote fishing fleet. Here’s what they saw:.
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BREAKING: Prosecutors says Alex Saab was signed up as a cooperating source of @DEAHQ since June 2018 and was scheduled to surrender May 30, 2019. As an informant, Saab provided information on bribes paid to Venezuelan officials. He also forfeited nearly $10 million to the DEA.
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BREAKING: The late Hugo Chavez's nurse and Venezuela's former National Treasurer has been found guilty of money laundering by a jury in south Florida. @AP story upcoming.
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One of Colombia’s most-respected columnists @DCoronell gets sacked after publishing a column asking his employer @RevistaSemana why it held for months a story about a military policy seeking to boost body counts. When @nytimes ended up publishing it rocked the establishment.
Felipe López, fundador de @RevistaSemana, me acaba de comunicar la decisión de la empresa de cancelar mi columna. Le agradezco a él, a @asantosrubino y especialmente a los lectores por estos años.
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After WWII, then booming Venezuela offered to pay passage for destitute European immigrants, as this ad from 1953 attests. Now, the UN says 2.3 mln have fled the crisis-wracked OPEC nation, most of them for countries far less welcoming than Venezuela once was
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NEW: Amid criminal probe that has led to his house arrest, Colombia's ex President @AlvaroUribeVel hired DC lobbyist for $40,000/month. The contract with DCI Group was signed Aug. 20 by Uribe's son through a Medellin-based entity called 31416 S.A.S. Here's the FARA filing 👇
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“Colombia doesn’t know the truth because there was—and is—no political will,” says ex warlord Salvatore Mancuso in letter from US jail in which he reaffirms his commitment to reveal all he knows about paramilitary ties to allies of ex president @AlvaroUribeVel
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SCOOP: Ex Miami Congressman David Rivera has been arrested at Atlanta's airport in connection to a criminal probe involving a $50 million consulting contract he signed with a U.S. affiliate of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.
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NUEVO: Un cable declasificado obtenido por @NSArchive muestra que un alto funcionario del Pentagono creia en 2004 que @AlvaroUribeVel "casi con certeza" tuvo lazos con paramilitares como gobernador. "Es parte del trabajo," agrega el oficial @AP @cearmario
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The @CarterCenter said a technical mission it sent to Venezuela was unable to verify the results of the country’s presidential election and blamed officials for a “complete lack of transparency” in declaring Nicolas Maduro the winner without publishing polling station tallies.
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Not your typical @AP interview. This one with Venezuelan opposition leader @jguaido was conducted on a boat trying to outmaneuver roadblocks @fisanchezn
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Update: Venezuelan security forces have picked up six American oil executives in what their families fear is retaliation for the extradition to US of Maduro ally Alex Saab. The men had been under house arrest. A lawyer for the men says he doesn’t know where they were taken.
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SCOOP: Biden officials turned down a meeting with El Salvador president @nayibbukele when he popped up in DC last week on a previously unreported trip, US sources tell me. Sources said Biden folks wanted to send a signal that relations are under review
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I can see this idea spreading to the developed world: El Salvador’s @nayibbukele orders a three month break from payment of utility bills, Internet, mortgage credits and other debts. One way to mitigate expected global recession
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The thrilling escape from Venezuela by @Simonovis after 15 years of detention seems straight out of “Argo,” which the ex SWAT cop watched while on the run after rappelling down a wall and before being caught adrift at sea. My @AP interview
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In a harsh email quitting as special adviser, Grossman told the @IntlCrimCourt top prosecutor that he can no longer stay silent as Maduro’s govt continues to commit abuses—without action from the ICC, which has been investigating Venezuela for 3 years.
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BREAKING: Federal judge denies Alex Saab’s motion to dismiss and determines the Maduro ally is not entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal charges.
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El nominado para ser Secretario de Estado @ABlinken dice que apoya reconocimiento de @jguaido como presidente de Venezuela y tilda a @NicolasMaduro de "dictador brutal" durante audiencia de confirmacion en el Senado EEUU.
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Confirmed: A senior U.S. official tells @AP that Saab is on the plane. Story upcoming.
Has Maduro ally Alex Saab finally been extradited to the US? This Gulfstream owned by @TheJusticeDept that departed Cape Verde a few hours ago with an unlisted, northwesterly destination is attracting lots of eyeballs. It's the #1 most-tracked flight worldwide on @flightradar24.
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Abrams was one of the architects of the U.S. invasion of Panama to remove Manuel Noriega in 1989. Maduro frequently cites "Operation Just Cause" as the mold the US is following to oust him. US denies it is coup-mongering.
.@SecPompeo just announced that Elliot Abrams to lead U.S. efforts on Venezuela.
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Tomorrow I'll have the story of Simonovis' escape from house arrest in an his first interview from exile in Washington. It's a thriller that includes a nighttime rappel down a 25-meter wall and an ill-fated 14 hour water crossing @AP.
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NUEVO: Funcionarios de Biden rechazaron reunión con el presidente de El Salvador, @nayibbukele, cuando apareció en DC la semana pasada, me dicen fuentes en EEUU. Dijeron que la gente de Biden quería enviar señal de que las relaciones están bajo revisión
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NEW: A lawyer for Alex Saab confirms the businessman, who amassed a number of contracts w/ Venezuela's socialist government, has been arrested. Source tells @AP he was detained in Cabo Verde on way back from Iran. He was wanted in US on money laundering charges. Story upcoming.
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How to disprove Alex Saab's claim of diplomatic status?. One clue: the U.S. Library of Congress. New court filing shows 4/26/18 e-version of Venezuela's Official Gazette provided by Saab's attorneys doesn't match a printed copy of same edition-- #6,373-- held at @librarycongress
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AP has confirmed @leopoldolopez has abandoned the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Caracas where he has been holed up since April 2019 military uprising. Destination unknown but he plans to leave Venezuela, sources tell me.
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Elliott Abrams: Transition in Venezuela is coming and @SecPompeo has instructed us to plan for reopening of @usembassyve in Caracas
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NEW: Alex Saab provided intelligence on Maduro's government in secret meetings with U.S. law enforcement prior to being charged in 2019 with money laundering, according to new filings in a related case against @univmiami professor Bruce Bagley. @AP story upcoming.
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IMF says they can’t consider Venezuela’s request for $5 billion emergency loan to fight coronavirus because its members don’t have clarity whether they recognize @jguaido or @NicolasMaduro. See statement from @IMFNews
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Has Maduro ally Alex Saab finally been extradited to the US? This Gulfstream owned by @TheJusticeDept that departed Cape Verde a few hours ago with an unlisted, northwesterly destination is attracting lots of eyeballs. It's the #1 most-tracked flight worldwide on @flightradar24.
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NEW: Colombia president didn't discuss ex paramilitary boss Mancuso in meeting this week w/ Trump aides including @robertcobrien, Colombia govt sources tell @AP. That's despite @IvanDuque demand the ex warlord be extradited upon finishing drug sentence in US, not sent to Italy.
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The “false positive” scandal in Colombia remains an open wound, which is why allegations @COMANDANTE_EJC is reviving policies that led to abuses is so concerning. Were these dubious rewards 14 years ago part of cover up? @caseysjournal @AP
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DEA Express? A jet operated by "Presidential Air" is scheduled to depart Sunday at noon from Cabo Verde to Miami's Opa Locka. Alex Saab was arrested in Cabo Verde on a Miami indictment. Presidential Aviation is a USG contractor formerly owned by Blackwater
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President @nayibbukele won't attend "Defense of Democracies" summit in Miami this week after allies in El Salvador's congress removed the supreme court. "We hope to have him at a future event" about the crisis in El Salvador's democracy, @Csanchezberzain told me. @Intdemocratic.
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Finally some good news from Lat America. Born into a family of modest means—his Dad was a security guard and Mom picks flowers—Egar Bernal hauled himself to the pinnacle of cycling with aguapanela, perseverance and a healthy dose of humility unknown to privileged European rivals
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Venezuela’s @jguaido talks to motorists in gas lines. It’s his first appearance in the streets in a month and comes after days of speculation he was hiding in French ambassador’s residence, which has been surrounded by security forces
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The $15 million reward for Maduro's arrest compares to a $25 million U.S. bounty offered for Osama Bin Laden following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
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Heading the operation to block @jguaido from entering congress Sunday was Lt. Col. Leonardo Malaguera. He took over as national guard commander responsible for security of downtown govt buildings following defection of his predecessor, Lt. Col. Illich Sanchez, in April 30 revolt
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Maduro's stepsons lose appeal of 2017 narcotics conspiracy conviction. The so-called "narco-nephews" case was cited in recent U.S. indictment against Maduro on narcoterrorist conspiracy charges.
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Group of 25 Maduro opponents send letter to @POTUS urging the U.S. to ease sanctions and allow Western oil companies to return to Venezuela. The signatories criticize "domestic political pressures" (i.e. Florida) that they argue has slowed Biden's tentative outreach to Maduro.
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Legal troubles mount for Colombia’s ex president @AlvaroUribeVel. Already under house arrest for alleged witness tampering he’s now ordered to testify about 3 paramilitary massacres when he was governor in 90s @cearmario @AP
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New lawsuit in Miami against @NicolasMaduro alleges Venezuelan officials waterboarded, electrocuted and gave mind-altering drugs to jailed Americans. The complaint was made by Matthew Heath and Osman Khan— both swapped in 2022 for 🇻🇪First Lady's nephews.
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British and French now sending warships to Caribbean. Officially for COVID assistance but comes day after US beefs up counternarcotics work in region following Maduro indictments
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A panel of experts sent by the @UN to monitor Venezuela’s recent presidential election said the vote counting lacked “basic transparency and integrity,” adding that the lack of published results “had no precedent in contemporary democratic elections.”.
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Sources tell @AP that @hugocarvajal4f is being re-arrested right now and that Spain's highest court has approved his extradition to the U.S., reversing an earlier court decision throwing out the U.S. arrest order.
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New reality in Venezuela: dueling press conferences by dueling presidents. But only one gets shown on TV. The other depends on my snail-paced WiFi
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SCOOP: Venezuela's brave opposition lawmakers haven't been paid for years and face daily threats. But taking a $5,000/month slice for themselves of Guaido's first budget is bound to anger Venezuelans scraping by on a few dollars amid a crisis, pandemic @AP
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El presidente @nayibbukele en agosto dijo al @AP que anulo un contrato de cabildeo con Robert Stryk tan pronto que se entero de su firma. Pero nuevos registros ante el @TheJusticeDept muestran que Stryk continúo representando al gobierno y cobrando despues
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Analysts tell @AP that the surprise US deployment is biggest in Latin American since 1989 invasion of Panama, involving assets like AWACS aircraft seldom seen before in region. But this isn't centered on Venezuela. Includes counter narcotics in Pacific too
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Gustavo Cardenas at his home in Houston where he arrived at 4 a.m. after being released from prison by Venezuela. The @CITGO oil executive spent was imprisoned in Venezuela since 2017.
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Proceeds from Telefonica's bribery scheme were used to fund a $500,000 vacation for one of the Venezuelan officials in Saint Barts. While there, another $605,000 was spent on luxury watches and jewelry for the official and their spouse.
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At last week’s plea hearing in NYC, ex Venezuelan General Cliver Alcala acknowledged providing grenade launchers to Colombian rebel leaders Ivan Marquez and Timochenko on orders of Hugo Chavez’s government. See transcript👇
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Fuentes de @AP cuentan que @jguaido ha salido de Venezuela y se encuentra en Colombia para una reunion lunes con @SecPompeo. Despues ira de gira por Europa y EEUU. Es la segunda vez que viaja fuera de su pais a pesar de una prohibicion de salida.
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Why did Alex Saab want to keep secret his meetings with @DEAHQ?. Because he says his family is "under the thumb" of the Maduro govt and can't leave Venezuela. They "will be either put in jail. or harmed," his attorney argued in a sidebar Wednesday. Unsealed transcript 👇
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BREAKING: Brother of leftist Colombian senator @piedadcordoba pleads guilty in NYC to drug trafficking charge. No cooperation offered. One lingering doubt: was the DEA targeting the senator?.
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Nobody answering at the Buenos Aires offices of Ex-Cle. The Argentine firm runs the voting machines in Venezuela after the previous vendor left, denouncing fraud. Ex-Cle, which the U.S. sanctioned in 2020, has so far refused to answer questions about the presidential election
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BREAKING: Biden administration releases from jail key ally of Venezuela's Maduro in swap for imprisoned Americans. The secretly negotiated deal for an allegedly corrupt businessman once held up as a U.S. trophy is bound to anger Venezuela's opposition.
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NEW: El Salvador's president @nayibbukele last August told @AP he fired DC lobbyist Robert Stryk as soon as he learned of the $450k contract by his spy agency. But lobby records show Stryk has continued representing the country and collecting payment
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Presidencia de El Salvador paga $390,000 a firma de relaciones publicas en Washington, segun documento entregado a @TheJusticeDept. Quien firma el contrato es un ex oficial de la Casa Blanca durante Clinton, asi que podria ser intento de @nayibbukele buscar puentes con Democratas
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NEW: Latest plea in ongoing Venezuela corruption probe is explosive. An oil contractor admitted to paying $1 million in bribes to a "high-ranking prosecutor" for "insurance." Sources say it was ex AG Luisa Ortega, a loyalist who broke with Maduro in 2017.
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Two attorneys for Alex Saab with wildly opposing views of their client. Attorney A in NY: Saab is a loyal Venezuelan diplomat. Attorney B in Miami: Saab was a DEA source who deserves bond and whose family will suffer retaliation if his cooperation is revealed. Judge yourself👇
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Alex Saab's purported "special envoy" passport appears in new motion to dismiss. But there's a problem: Venezuela's FM doesn't mention it in a letter protesting his arrest to Cape Verde. He cites another passport, w/ a different number. Did Saab leave the dip passport at home?
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Son in law of ex Caracas opposition mayor Ledezma pleads guilty to U.S. charges for role in scheme to siphon $600 million from PdVSA. Fernando Vuteff’s take from fees charged by European banks used to pay bribes: at least $3.7 million.
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Latin American narcos may sleep easier. Tomorrow is the last day for the prosecutor who indicted @NicolasMaduro @hugocarvajal4f and the brother of Honduras' president on drug charges. Emil Bove was blamed for his unit's mishandling of evidence in a botched Iran sanctions case.
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Charter flight by ex Blackwater firm has departed Cabo Verde for Miami. Is it carrying Alex Saab? Presidential Aviation changed arrival airport shortly before takeoff to MIA international. Previously was scheduled to land at Opa Locka
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NEW: Invest El Salvador, a DC firm created three weeks ago, is the third to have registered as a foreign agent of El Salvador since August with contracts totaling more than $1.6 million. @AP
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SCOOP: @DEAHQ to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The DEA’s biggest policy change in its half-century history could have massive ripple effects, aligning the federal government closer to the 24 states that have already legalized weed.
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Lobbyist for top Maduro aide registers as foreign agent amid calls for US to ease sanctions on Venezuela as it fights coronavirus. Amsterdam & Partners will get paid $4 million to help Venezuela "mitigate or remove sanctions." US insists it will channel all aid via @jguaido
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18 progressive Democrats in Congress in letter to @POTUS urge the Biden administration to lift all sanctions on Venezuela that “exacerbate the humanitarian situation.”
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NEW: In 2008, US prosecutors told Colombia that Salvatore Mancuso's life was in "grave danger" because in sworn testimony he revealed how powerful politicians & the military supported paramilitaries. This letter is now a key part of the ex warlord's fight for asylum in the US.
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Cabo Verde’s attorney general says Saab is detained and will appear in court while a judge evaluates the US extradition request. Miami prosecutors have 18 days to file a formal request.
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A secret memo obtained by @AP details a covert operation by the DEA that sent informants into Venezuela to record and build drug cases against top leaders – a plan the U.S. acknowledged was arguably a violation of international law. w/ @JimMustian .
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New website created by DC lobbyist hired by @AlvaroUribeVel debuts with a take down of the ex president's main accuser @IvanCepedaCast. Why only in English if the court battle is in Colombia?
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New federal charges against a Venezuelan accused of taking bribes on behalf of ex Gov. Vielma Mora in exchange for food import contracts. The case is tied to the prosecution of Maduro ally Alex Saab. The lack of an indictment suggests the defendant is cooperating.
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NEW: Ex Venezuela official Luis Carlos de Leon wired $18 million from a Swiss bank as part of his plea deal with prosecutors in Houston. The amount represents the ex official's take from a massive bribery conspiracy in Venezuela's energy sector. 🧵
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SCOOP: For decades, Manuel Rocha served as a U.S. diplomat posted to Latin America. On Friday, he was arrested on accusations of secretly serving as a foreign agent of communist Cuba, the AP learned. More Monday at first court appearance. W/@etuckerAP .
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Investigation by @ArmandoInfo into Ex-Cle, the tech firm sanctioned by the U.S. that has been running Venezuela's elections. According to this report, two Argentine executives who ran the Caracas office have left Venezuela and returned home.
Nobody answering at the Buenos Aires offices of Ex-Cle. The Argentine firm runs the voting machines in Venezuela after the previous vendor left, denouncing fraud. Ex-Cle, which the U.S. sanctioned in 2020, has so far refused to answer questions about the presidential election
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According to court records from Liechtenstein obtained by @AP, Venezuela’s ex treasurer, Claudia Díaz, allegedly used looted funds and a shell company to buy gold bars valued at $9.5 million. The ingots were stored in a vault in the tiny European country
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SCOOP: Venezuela has freed seven jailed Americans imprisoned in exchange for the release of two nephews of President Nicholas Maduro's wife held for years by the U.S. on drug smuggling convictions. W/ @etuckerAP .
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Here's the Biden presidential pardon that freed Alex Saab. Key terms:.-No return of $12 million he forfeited to DEA.-Applies to a single case, so in theory Saab can be charged in a separate 2021 case for food trafficking where he's "co-conspirator 1".-No book deal/Netflix series
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When the history of corruption in Venezuela is written, Matthias Krull will figure prominently. The ex Swiss banker was rewarded a 65% sentence reduction for helping untangle a web of straw owners used to steal billions in oil wealth. Here's his story:
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Fiscales de NY que manejan casos contra @NicolasMaduro y @TareckPSUV reconocen haber mentido sobre el manejo de evidencias en un caso contra empresario iraní convicto de violar sanciones.
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Trump nominates career diplomat James Story as ambassador to Venezuela. The US hasn't had an ambassador in Venezuela since 2010 and Story will stay in Colombia for now. This is about reciprocity as US recognizes Guaido's envoy as Venezuela's ambassador
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A pesar de que el COVID redujo el contacto personal, 2020 fue un año de mucho lobby para América Latina. 12 gobiernos gastaron US$12.5 millones buscando influenciar a Washington, según mi análisis de contratos registrados con el Departamento de Justicia.👇
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Maduro under “interrogation” from respected Spanish journalist. It’s the interview everyone wanted. Last time @jordievole interviewed him sparks flew. Should be a good one.
Así arranca la entrevista a Maduro. Hablando de las detenciones de periodistas. Domingo. 21:25.En Salvados.
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Secretary of State nominee @ABlinken says he would continue to recognize @jguaido as Venezuelan president. Calls @NicolasMaduro "a brutal dictator" but says "hard part is we have not gotten the results." In response to @marcorubio at today's confirmation hearing.
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A psy-ops message from Maduro?Wife of American detainee Airan Berry tells @AP she never has seen this “MOSCOW” t-shirt her husband was wearing in his first video appearance in Venezuela. Footage on state TV shows him shirtless when arrested.
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Colombia’s tell-all columnist Daniel Coronell debuts online after quitting @RevistaSemana. In this article, he shares the text messages of Semana’s new owner threatening to censor a column he didn’t like in an apparent break with the storied magazine’s editorial independence.
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Attorney for Gen. Hugo Carvajal confirms to @AP that the ex Venezuelan spymaster better known as “Chicken” has been extradited from Spain and is expected to arrive later today to NY, where he faces money laundering charges. Story upcoming …. .
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Trump campaign affidavit in Georgia lawsuit testifying against Venezuela appears to be from Capt. Leamsy Salazar. Like the unnamed witness, he's ex marine/special ops who once worked security for Hugo Chavez. He fled to US in '14 and accused ex boss @dcabellor of drug trafficking
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Hugo Chavez's ex bodyguard has been extradited from Spain to south Florida to face charges related to an alleged bribery ring. Adrian Velasquez will have his first court appearance on Friday. His wife and co-defendant, ex Venezuela Treasurer Claudia Diaz, is preparing for trial.
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Peru President Dina Boluarte's government extends $40k a month lobby contract with PR firm @PatriotStrat
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Families of 9 Americans jailed in Venezuela send letter to @JoeBiden. “We are frustrated by the lack of action. Those in-charge of returning wrongfully detained Americans have not even taken the basic first step of directly engaging with the Venezuelans holding our loved ones.”
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NEW: For years, Venezuelans have wondered if U.S. prosecutors are targeting ex oil czar Rafael Ramirez. Now, they've outed as an apparent cooperator one of Ramirez's aides, ex @PDVSA security chief Rafael Reiter, who has offered to testify about corruption by Ramirez and others.
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Federal agents testify that Maduro ally Alex Saab wired $12.6 million to @DEAHQ over six months. The funds were profits from contracts w/ Venezuela allegedly obtained via bribes. The exhibit was presented at this week's hearing on Saab's claim he's a Venezuelan diplomat.
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