Trump’s Team Gets Payback for Rubio on Venezuelan Assassination Plot
By Politico. When one of Venezuela’s top leaders was suspected of conspiring to assassinate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio last year, the reaction of the United States was uncharacteristically tame.
Stiffer sanctions against Venezuela languished at the National Security Council. And Diosdado Cabello Rondon, the vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, wasn’t touched by targeted sanctions even though the U.S. government has accused him of being a narco-trafficker.
But all of that changed in the past five days as new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton began flexing their muscles in the run-up to Sunday’s elections in Venezuela — elections the U.S. government called a “sham” perpetrated by “kleptocracy.”
On Friday, Cabello and his relatives had his assets frozen by the U.S. Treasury, and on Monday, further U.S. investments in Venezuela were limited as the one-two punch of sanctions heralded a hawkish new era for the Trump administration, while revealing an enhanced role for Rubio as a Trump foreign policy emissary and ally. (Read more from “Trump’s Team Gets Payback for Rubio on Venezuelan Assassination Plot” HERE)
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Flashback: Marco Rubio Assassination Plot From Venezuela Detected by U.S. Intelligence
By Newsweek. Florida senator Marco Rubio may have been the subject of an assassination plot from a leading Venezuela lawmaker, according to information discovered by U.S. intelligence.
The death threat, which was discovered and shared with security services a month ago, [had] resulted in the Republican lawmaker receiving additional security protection.
It is believed the order against Rubio may have come from the former military chief and socialist party member Diosdado Cabello, whose open feud with Rubio is well known. (Read more from “Flashback: Marco Rubio Assassination Plot From Venezuela Detected by U.S. Intelligence” HERE)
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