BREAKING Venezuelan Vice President Said to Be Targeted for U.S. Sanctions

 Tareck El Aissami

The Trump administration is preparing sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami, who’s been under investigation for years by U.S. authorities for alleged participation in drug trafficking and money laundering, according to two people familiar with the matter, reports Bloomberg.

Notes Bloomberg:

The sanctions mark an extraordinary step against the second-in-command of a foreign government and are sure to lead to a further deterioration in U.S. relations with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who appointed El Aissami as vice president on Jan. 4 amid a deepening economic and humanitarian crisis..

As the number two official in Venezuela, El Aissami would be in line to replace Maduro should he cede to opposition pressure to step aside because of the country’s economic implosion and social unrest. Maduro has so far quashed the opposition’s attempt to hold a referendum on his removal before his term ends in about two years.

File under: Trump at work.

-RW