In this photo released by Venezuela's Ministry of Communication, Jorge Rodriguez shows a video of American Airon Berry, a former U.S. special forces soldier associated with the Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp USA, during a televised statement in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday , May 7, 2020. Berry and Luke Denman were purportedly hired by Goudreau’s private firm to participate in the failed assault.The Canadian Press
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor ordered the arrest Friday of a former U.S. Green Beret and two opposition figures living in the United States for their purported role in a botched operation aimed at removing President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Tarek William Saab said Venezuela will seek the capture of Jordan Goudreau, a military veteran who has claimed responsibility for the attack, as well as Juan Jose Rendon and Sergio Vergara, two U.S.-based advisers to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.
“They are living in impunity,” Mr. Saab said. “In tranquillity over there.”
U.S. law enforcement is investigating Mr. Goudreau, though it remains unclear if he will be charged. President Donald Trump does not recognize Mr. Maduro’s government, making it highly unlikely that his administration would accept any extradition request.
The White House has denied all responsibility in the armed raid, which resulted in the arrests of two Americans, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were purportedly hired by Mr. Goudreau’s private firm to participate in the assault.
In an interview with Fox News Channel on Friday, Mr. Trump said he “didn’t know too much” about the attack and again denied any U.S. government involvement.
“It wasn’t led by General George Washington, obviously,” he said. “This was not a good attack.”
Venezuelan authorities have been insisting that Washington was behind the plot, with Mr. Saab noting Friday that the United States had previously offered a US$15-million bounty for Mr. Maduro’s arrest, which he said opened the door for such attacks.
“That gives a green light for an incursion into our territory,” he said.
Mr. Denman and Mr. Berry are both former U.S. Special Forces soldiers who served in Iraq. In video statements aired on Venezuela’s state television, both said they’d been hired by Mr. Goudreau to train rebel troops in Colombia and target Mr. Maduro.
Mr. Goudreau, a U.S. citizen who says he originally enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1990s and studied at the University of Calgary, also has said Mr. Denman and Mr. Berry were part of his operation.
Mr. Rendon has acknowledged giving Mr. Goudreau US$50,000 to cover some expenses and said that he and Mr. Vergara signed an agreement with the three-time Bronze Star recipient. Meanwhile, Mr. Goudreau has presented what he said is an audio recording made on a hidden cellphone in which Mr. Guaido can be heard briefly greeting the combat veteran via video conference.
The opposition leader, recognized by the U.S. and about 60 other countries as Venezuela’s rightful president, has denied any involvement in the operation.
Mr. Saab said Venezuela is issuing 22 new arrest orders and did not mention Mr. Guaido among them.
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