U.S. Sanctions Venezuelans for Attempting to Block Newly Re-Elected President Juan Guaidó

Today, the United States sanctioned seven Venezuelan officials of the former Nicolás Maduro regime. “On January 5, Maduro-controlled security forces prevented Guaidó, and around 100 opposition delegates of the National Assembly from entering the Federal Legislative Palace.” These seven Venezuelan government officials, the U.S. states, worked on behalf of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in an “attempt to illegitimately seize control of the National Assembly and block interim President Juan Guaidó”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the “United States, along with most Venezuelans and many other countries, continues to recognize Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president of the National Assembly and Interim President of Venezuela.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin commented that “sanctions [can be] removed if they side with the people of Venezuela and Juan Guaidó as their legitimate leader.”