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U.S. De-Sanctions Renegade Venezuelan Spy Chief; Maduro Says He Worked for CIA
The U.S. government imposes economic sanctions is to punish perceived enemies of the United States. Washington also removes those sanctions to lure those enemies to embrace the United States.
Case in point: Manuel Christopher Figuer, former director general of the Venezuelan intelligence service, known as SEBIN
In February Christopher Figuer was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. According to an official of the Venezuelan opposition party quoted by the Justice Department., Figuera oversaw “mass torture, mass human rights violations, and mass persecution against those who want democratic change in Venezuela.”
On April 30, Figura broke with the government of President Nicholas Maduro and joined the failed uprising of opposition leader Juan Guaido,
(Maduro government is recognized by the United Nations and approximately 100 other nations including Russia, China, and Mexico. Guaido is recognized as interim president by the United States, the Organization of American States, and 50 nations. )
In a video released on Twitter, Christopher said that he broke with Maduro in an effort to end the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
“I believe and I am sure that we deserve a better country and we must all work for the reconstruction and reordering of the State, for our children, for our grandchildren, for those who have to come, for our country and forever,” he said.
WATCH: Christopher Figuera’s speech.
In an interview with Unavision, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, all but admitted the U.S. had sought to purchase the loyalty of the Venezuelan officers. When a reporter asked “if the U.S. was offering money in exchange for defection,” Pompeop replied, “we never talk about the activities we’re in engaged in.”
On May 7 Vice President Mike Pence encouraged other Venezuelans to follow Christopher Figuera’s example. On May 10, the Treasury Department removed the sanctions on Figuera.
The same day Maduro claimed Christopher Figuera was working for the CIA.
De-sanctioning is intended to lure other Venezuelan official to break with the government, according to the Treasury Department.
The United States continues to make clear that the removal of sanctions is available for persons designated under E.O. 13692 or E.O. 13850, both as amended, who take concrete and meaningful actions to restore democratic order, refuse to take part in human rights abuses, speak out against abuses committed by the illegitimate Maduro regime, or combat corruption in Venezuela.
WATCH: Maduro’s Speech
Venezuela's self-declared President Juan Guaido said on Saturday that he has instructed his political envoy in Washington to immediately open relations with the US military.
Those who have bothered to read SOUTHCOM's comprehensive, multi-pronged plan to destabilize and ultimately topple Nicolas Maduro - a plan that, notably, ends with coalition troops on the ground - will recognize that two of the final steps involves enticing Venezuelan professionals to flee while encouraging military officials to give a coup d'etat one more try.
Tuesdays clownish coup attempt in Venezuela failed. The Trump administration got snookered. It will have to either change its tactic or leave the issue alone. National Security Advisor John Bolton is pressing for a war on Venezuela.
The embattled President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has reportedly fired his intelligence director, as news emerged early on Thursday that members of his inner circle were considering removing him from power. These reports circulated shortly after Juan Guaidó, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, openly called on the country’s Armed Forces to remove Maduro from power. Guaidó has been recognized by over 50 countries —including the United States and much of the European Union— as the legitimate president of Venezuela. But Maduro continues to be supported by a number of powerful allies, including China and Russia, which sent troops there last month.
