The Trump administration has ordered federal prosecutors in Miami to halt criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a figure consistently targeted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration since at least 2018 for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering. This directive, confirmed by current and former U.S. law enforcement officials, effectively shields a leader described as a "lifelong Marxist" and a "senior leader of one of the world’s most corrupt regimes" from justice, prioritizing U.S. investment and access to Venezuela's petroleum reserves.
Elite Interests Override Justice
The instruction to "stand down" on scrutiny into Rodríguez was reportedly issued to avoid disrupting the administration's efforts to "stabilize Venezuela" following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro, and to facilitate the opening of the country to U.S. investment.
President Donald Trump publicly praised Rodríguez as a "terrific person" and stated in early March that she "is doing a great job," noting, "The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both Countries is a very nice thing to see!"
The U.S. has lifted sanctions against Rodríguez and recognized her as Venezuela’s sole head of state, enabling her to re-establish connections with Western banks and collaborate more freely with U.S. investors seeking access to the world’s largest petroleum reserves.
In recent months, Rodríguez has hosted ceremonies with numerous American oilmen, including high-profile delegations led by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Rick de la Torre, a former CIA chief of station in Caracas, observed that the decision to shield Rodríguez aligns with the Trump administration’s foreign policy goals in Venezuela, stating, "She’s a lifelong Marxist and was a senior leader of one of the world’s most corrupt regimes but the U.S. is providing her with breathing space and carrots to lay the foundation for democracy and U.S. investment."
Subversion of Law and Sovereignty
DEA records obtained earlier this year show Rodríguez consistently appeared on federal law enforcement's radar since at least 2018, with allegations ranging from drug trafficking to gold smuggling.
One confidential informant told DEA in early 2021 that Rodríguez was using hotels in the Caribbean resort of Isla Margarita "as a front to launder money," according to the records.
Her name has surfaced in nearly a dozen DEA investigations, several of which remained ongoing as recently as this year, involving field offices from Paraguay and Ecuador to Phoenix and New York.
Rodríguez and her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, were previously sanctioned by the U.S. during Trump’s first term for their role in undermining Venezuelan democracy and solidifying Maduro’s authoritarian rule.
Justice Department policy dictates that the attorney general must personally approve the charging of any foreign head of state, who are typically immune from prosecution under international and U.S. law, highlighting the high-level political nature of such decisions.
The pausing of investigations into Rodríguez mirrors similar actions by the Trump administration concerning Colombian President Gustavo Petro, another prominent Latin American leftist designated a "priority target" by the DEA over alleged ties to drug traffickers.
Duncan Levin, a former prosecutor, described it as "deeply troubling" for law enforcement to be "told to stand down from a legitimate investigation for political or transactional reasons," adding, "The White House cannot use criminal enforcement as a diplomatic light switch."
The Globalist Playbook
The "Venezuelan playbook," characterized by oil blockades, indictments of top leaders, and threats of military intervention, has been presented as a model to drive "regime change from within" as the U.S. pressures other adversaries like Iran and Cuba.
Despite the U.S. administration's stated goals of "stabilization," there has been no discussion of elections, even after Rodríguez last month exceeded a 90-day limit set by Venezuela’s high court to fill Maduro’s position temporarily.
When questioned by a U.S. journalist about her timeframe for holding elections, Rodríguez responded in English, "Some time."
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, demanded an explanation for the favorable treatment of Rodríguez, whom she called a "central figure in Nicolás Maduro’s repressive regime."
Shaheen, joined by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent last week, stating that sanctions were lifted on Ms. Rodríguez "without any indication that she has taken concrete and meaningful actions to restore democratic order."