3 Democratic Senators Press Trump for Transparency on Billions in Venezuelan Oil Revenue
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
3 Democratic Senators Press Trump for Transparency on Billions in Venezuelan Oil Revenue
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 17
Summary
Three Democratic senators asked the Trump administration to disclose the status and use of billions of dollars in Venezuelan oil revenue held in a Treasury-controlled account, according to a letter obtained by The Washington Post.
The lawmakers — Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse — said officials have for months failed to explain where the money has gone or what safeguards exist against misappropriation and politically directed spending.
Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in June that the proceeds were being placed in a Treasury-blocked Citibank account and that KPMG was being paid from those funds to audit every expenditure.
The senators said no audits have been made public and questioned whether any have occurred, warning the administration could steer the funds without congressional authorization after taking control of Venezuelan oil proceeds following Nicolás Maduro's January capture.