Biden raises the reward for Nicolas Maduro’s capture to $25 million

The Biden administration said on Friday that it had offered $25 million in exchange for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, after he assumed a third term despite evidence indicating that he lost the last elections in Venezuela.

the advertisement It was a retaliatory measure by Washington, which does not recognize Mr. Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela. Mr. Maduro provided no evidence that he won the July elections, while his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez, won. Thousands submitted Of the numbers of votes available to the public, which he says indicate this He won easily The largest number of votes.

The United States said Mr. Gonzalez is the elected president of Venezuela, and urged Mr. Maduro to step down.

The Biden administration also announced that it is expanding protections for about 600,000 Venezuelan migrants living in the United States who have temporary protected status. This measure allows those who apply to stay for an additional 18 months.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the decision to raise the reward for Mr. Maduro’s capture was part of a “coordinated message of solidarity with the Venezuelan people,” aimed at “further strengthening international efforts to maintain pressure on Mr. Maduro.” Maduro and his representatives.”

These rewards are widely considered more symbolic than just a serious effort to catch a person. The $25 million reward represents an increase from the $15 million reward set by the Trump administration in 2020.

But the measure did nothing to dissuade Maduro from serving a third six-year term. Some critics have even argued that this reward strategy contributed to Maduro’s position by making it more difficult to leave power.

If he leaves the presidency, he will be at high risk of arrest.

A representative of the Biden administration described the extension of temporary protected status for Venezuelan migrants as an attempt to support the Venezuelan people.

The program was signed into law by George H.W. Bush to help people who cannot return to their countries due to natural disasters or armed conflicts. President-elect Donald J. Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, has done just that Pledge to finish Program.

Biden’s representative, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, said high levels of crime and violence — as well as barriers to accessing food, medicine, health care, water, electricity and fuel — prevent many people from being exposed to violence. Able to return safely.

In 2020, Mr. Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused of his involvement in narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy over decades.

Ministry of Justice Formal accusation The unusual move against a foreign head of state signaled that the United States was likely to take an increasingly hard line against Mr. Maduro.

At that point, the State Department announced the initial reward of $15 million. Mr. Maduro remains under indictment.

The United States will also offer $25 million for information leading to the arrest of the country’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, up from $10 million, Biden administration officials said Friday.

The State Department added another reward: $15 million to help capture Venezuela’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez.

Just minutes after Maduro was sworn in for another term on Friday, the US Treasury Department also said it had imposed new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials, adding to about 180 of Maduro’s allies and other Venezuelans already under sanctions.

The measures freeze assets owned by officials in the United States.

Bradley T said: “The United States and its allies in the region have pressured Maduro to commit to the democratic transition,” said the Treasury official in a statement. “Instead, Maduro and his representatives have continued their violent repression in an attempt to maintain power, and have ignored the Venezuelan people’s calls for democratic accountability.”

David E. Sanger Contributed to reports.