Machado was not part of US plan for post-Maduro Venezuela, source says

In the months before the United States launched a raid in January to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela and the United States participated in Qatar-mediated talks on what the country might look like if Maduro resigned.

Yet the vision of a post-Maduro Venezuela discussed during the negotiations never addressed the role of prominent opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, according to a Qatari source who spoke to CNN.

The source said neither U.S. nor Venezuelan officials had discussed Machado as part of a post-Maduro transition plan, despite his vocal support for U.S. intervention in Venezuela and his vocal criticism of the Maduro government.

Shortly after Maduro’s capture, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he did not believe Machado had the “support” in Venezuela needed to lead a transition. A few weeks later, Machado visited Trump at the White House and presented him with his Nobel Prize medal. Later, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s position on Machado’s leadership potential had “not changed.”

At the time, Machado adviser David Smolansky said the opposition figure was “a leader with extraordinary support, and she has the support of almost all Venezuelans.”

Instead of Machado, the Trump administration authorized Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the presidency. Rodríguez was involved in contacts with the United States through Doha last year, according to the source.

CNN has contacted the White House for comment.

The discussions included a possible transition of power in Venezuela. Rodríguez made several visits to Qatar in 2024, including meetings with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar positioned itself as a mediator between Washington and Caracas at the request of both parties, the source said.

Doha has often played a mediating role between Washington and Caracas, with early negotiations under the Biden administration focused on prisoner exchanges and negotiations over Americans detained in Venezuela. After Maduro’s capture, Venezuela publicly thanked Qatar for helping search for proof of life and facilitating communication efforts between the parties involved.

The source also told CNN that a temporary bank account had been opened in Qatar at the request of the US government, where profits from Venezuelan oil sales would be deposited. The account has since been closed.

Qatar was not informed in advance of the January 3 operation in which Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US forces.

Since their capture, Maduro and Flores have been imprisoned at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting trial on drug and gun charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. The case is moving slowly, with the U.S. government recently allowing the Venezuelan government to pay for the couple’s defense after a weeks-long delay.

CNN’s Max Saltman contributed reporting.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos