Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó accepted the resignation of Juan Rendon, a United States-based adviser, and Sergio Vergara, an exiled legislator and a staffer on Guaidó’s “crisis strategy commission”, for their role in the failed attempt to oust President Nicolás Maduro.
Last week, Maduro announced that state security forces had arrested 13 and killed eight “terrorist mercenaries”, in what he claims was a failed attempt to kill him. He placed the blame squarely on the United States and Colombia, with two of those arrested being American mercenaries. The maritime invasion, which originated in Colombia, took place in the state of La Guaira, near the capital city, Caracas.
Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that opposition leader Juan Guaidó hired mercenaries to overthrow Maduro. At the time, Guaidó countered that the incident was a “set up” orchestrated by the regime, and insisted that he had no relationship with “any company in the security and defense branch”. He professed his non-involvement even though the Communication Minister offered the contract Guaidó signed with US private security company Silvercorp as proof of his complicity.
Soon after, however, Rendon admitted that he had negotiated an agreement with Silvercorp late last year, but claims to have cut ties with the firm’s chief executive, Jordan Goudreau, in November. Rendon says that Goudreau went ahead with the operation, led by two former US soldiers, to capture Maduro anyways. Rendon said the commission was never interested in “participating in violent activities”, while Vergara said that he was not aware of Operation Gideon’s plans.
Rendon admitted that he gave Goudreau $50,000 for initial expenses, but both Goudreau and Rendon say that the contract was “never fulfilled” and that no further payments took place. In fact, Goudreau took responsibility for going ahead with the failed coup on May 3.
On Friday, Venezuela’s Chief Prosecutor, Tarek Saab, requested the extradition of Goudreau, Rendon, and Vergara for their involvement in the “design, financing, and execution” of the bungled raid.
President Trump has said that it has “nothing to do” with the US government, while Colombia has said that claims of its complicity by the Venezuelan government are “an unfounded accusation”.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Juan Guaidó has distanced himself from the attempted coup but nonetheless accepted the resignations of two of his staff members. Given how Guaidó’s initial response was to say that his team had “no relationship” with Silvercorp, his latest decision to accept Rendon and Vergara’s resignations raises questions. It remains unclear why Goudreau went ahead with Operation Gideon when Guaidó never fulfilled his financial obligations of the contract they signed.
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Accepts Resignation of Two Advisors for Role in Failed Coup
Guaidó initially claimed no involvement in the bungled raid, calling it a “set up”.
May 12, 2020
IMAGE SOURCE: AFPVenezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó