‘He's in Venezuela' - Trump admin roundly mocked over $50M bounty for Nicolas Maduro
Thursday's announcement from Bondi saw the phrase, 'He's in Venezuela,' trending on X, with users saying that should be enough information for the administration.
Bondi accused Nicolas Maduro of being one of the world's largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.
'Under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday in a video announcing the reward.
Jeffrey Epstein files debacle.
'He's in Venezuela... With the Epstein files...,' joked one user alongside a gif of Trump and Epstein partying in Mar-a-Lago in 1992. 'He's in Venezuela… but also we need those Epstein files,' said another.
'He's in Venezuela. I take Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, & Apple Pay. Now quit deflecting & release the full, unredacted Epstein Files,' said another person.
'DOJ offers a $50m reward for info on Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Well, it doesn't take a James 'Bondi' to know he's in Venezuela,' wrote another user.
Many wrote, 'He's in Venezuela. Where's my money?'
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil released a statement characterizing the reward as 'pathetic' and accusing Bondi of orchestrating a 'crude political propaganda operation.'
'We're not surprised, coming from whom it comes from. The same one who promised a nonexistent 'secret list' of Epstein and who wallows in scandals for political favors,' Gil said, referring to the backlash Bondi faced after the Justice Department announced last month that a long-rumored 'client list' of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein does not exist.
'Her show is a joke, a desperate distraction from her own misery.'
Maduro was indicted in Manhattan federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. At the time, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.
That was later raised by the Biden administration to $25 million — the same amount the U.S. provided for the capture of Osama bin Laden following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Despite the big bounty, Maduro remains entrenched after defying the U.S., the European Union, and several Latin American governments who condemned his 2024 reelection as a sham and recognized his opponent as Venezuela's duly elected president.
Last month, the Trump administration struck a deal to secure the release of 10 Americans jailed in the capital, Caracas, in exchange for Venezuela getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Shortly after, the White House reversed course and allowed U.S. oil producer Chevron to resume drilling in Venezuela after U.S. sanctions previously blocked it.
Bondi said the Justice Department has seized more than $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets, and said nearly 7 tons of seized cocaine had been traced directly to the leftist leader.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Former Russian America': Ex-Trump adviser tells CNN that for Putin, Alaska is next best thing to Moscow for summit
Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton appeared on CNN on Friday night, comparing the meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to Trump inviting the Taliban to peace negotiations at Camp David. Trump announced on Truth Social earlier that the 'highly anticipated meeting' would take place on Friday, August 15. 'It's very gracious of Putin to come to former Russian America for this summit,' a sarcastic Bolton noted. 'This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan, but it certainly reminds one of that.' Trump later canceled the talks with the Taliban in September 2019. 'The only better place for Putin than Alaska would be if the summit were being held in Moscow,' Bolton added. 'So, the initial setup, I think, is a great victory for Putin. He's a rogue leader of a pariah state, and he's going to be welcomed into the United States.' He went on to argue that the situation 'is sliding very quickly in Russia's direction.' 'We're not quite back at February the 28th, in the Oval Office, when Trump told [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, 'You don't have any cards.' But what's happening is that Russia and the United States are discussing what terms they're going to present to Zelenskyy, and it may well be that Zelenskyy has no choice here,' he added. 'Surrendering is always one way to get a peace deal.' Bolton suggested that 'even without the meeting, Putin's got his old magic back with Trump.' 'All that disappointment, all that outrage … now you're talking about a deal between Trump and Putin? Think of the press that will get. I have to say, from the strategic perspective, from the U.S. interest perspective, this was not a good day,' said the former U.N. ambassador. Host Kaitlan Collins noted that Putin can't go to Europe for a meeting, as there's an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest. Bolton argued that they could have met in Vienna or Geneva, where Putin met then-President Joe Biden in 2021. 'They're basically considered U.N. cities, and the ICC warrant could have been waived, and I don't think anybody would have objected, frankly,' he said. Bolton said, 'If Trump really wanted to get an equitable peace deal,' he could 'certainly listen to what Putin had to say.' 'But they're doing a lot more than listening. They could receive the material and send it to Zelenskyy, and hear what he thought of it first,' he added. Bolton, who served as national security adviser during Trump's first term, said, 'This sounds an awful lot' like the peace plan proposed by Vice President JD Vance during the campaign last year. 'Russia keeps all the territory it currently holds, a demilitarized zone, maybe with a peacekeeping force on the Ukrainian side is set up, and Ukraine pledges not to join NATO,' said Bolton. 'If Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire here, it's agreeing to its new border with Russia, effectively. I think this is a very dangerous point for Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government.'
Daily Mirror
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump posts video of UK 'free Tommy Robinson' march saying 'amazing to see'
The US President posted footage of a far-right march that took place in July 2018 - during his first term - which coincided with his visit to the UK Donald Trump posted a video of a "Free Tommy Robinson" march chanting his name on social media, saying it was "amazing to see". The US President posted on Truth Social footage of a far-right march that took place in July 2018 - during his first term - which coincided with his visit to the UK. The post came shortly after Keir Starmer told Volodymyr Zelensky that he had Britain's "unwavering support" - following the Ukraine president's angry rejection of Donald Trump's proposals for a deal to end the war. It's an acutely sensitive moment for relations with the US, as Europe risks angering the US President by standing firm behind Ukraine's refusal to give up territory following Putin's illegal invasion. The video shows a crowd of a few thousand people on Whitehall chanting "We Love Trump" as a speaker on stage declared the "deplorables" of the UK backed him. Trump sparked shock and anger during his first term by retweeting videos made by Jay Fransen, the leader of Britain First. And his former adviser Steve Bannon repeatedly called for Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon to be released from prison, while he was locked up for contempt of court after making false claims about a refugee. And it was reported at the time of the rally that Sam Brownback, Trump's ambassador for international religious freedom had raised concerns over Robinson's safety in prison with the British ambassador in Washington. Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday rejected the idea that his country would give up land to end the war with Russia after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a peace deal could include "some swapping of territories." Zelensky said Ukraine "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done" and that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier." The remarks came after Trump said Friday that he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Ghislaine Maxwell's ex-cellmate reveals all about her life in prison, and how she has 'dirt' on Donald Trump
The first time Kathryn Comolli saw Ghislaine Maxwell was when the convicted sex trafficker was about to enter the isolation unit at Tallahassee prison, Florida. Comolli said: '[Maxwell] was just standing there in an orange jumpsuit and orange flip-flops, with handcuffs behind her back and a guard on both sides. She was looking down at the ground, tense and angry. Comolli slept a few feet away from Maxwell, 63, for over three months, and she had heard another inmate reveal that her cellmate had 'dirt' on Donald Trump - who was friends with the notorious late pedo Jeffrey Epstein. About that first meeting, Comolli, 44, said: '[Maxwell] had just been strip-searched, which involves squatting naked and coughing because they don't want any contraband [concealed on the person].' 'I heard some female inmates shouting, "Here comes Maxwell. Here comes that big money b****." I thought to myself, "Oh my God, there she is. What is she doing here in this hell-hole?" But Maxwell stayed cool, calm and collected. That was the way she was. Her golden rule seemed to be that she would keep herself to herself.' At that time, Maxwell had already been at the prison for a few months - but she had to spend a night in isolation as punishment for talking to the media without permission from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Referring to Maxwell's appearance on Talk TV's Jeremy Kyle Live, in which the disgraced British socialite said she wished she had 'never met' Epstein, Comolli said: 'It was the only interview she ever did and she got in trouble for it.' Comolli spent 15 days in isolation after she was transferred from Federal Prison Camp Marianna in Florida, where she had been found with a mobile phone. After completing the time, she was taken by guards to B South Dormitory and assigned a bunk near Maxwell's. Both women slept on their respective bottom bunks. B South was a horseshoe-shaped room made up of sleeping cubes, divided by shoulder-height concrete walls. There were 140 inmates in the dormitory. Each section had two bunk beds with lockers in the middle but 'no privacy whatsoever'. Comolli was serving six years for 'conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine'. After her arrest in September 2020, she served two years of her sentence at Tallahassee and was released last August. She said: 'While most of us would watch TV, cook noodles, listen to the radio or play cards, Maxwell just laid on her bed reading. 'It was hot and sweaty and any time it rained, we'd have to take maxi pads [sanitary towels] and put them in the cracks in the ceiling so we didn't get wet. 'There were just four toilets for 140 of us and they were always getting blocked. We'd put a garbage bag over them and just wait until somebody got round to fixing them -anywhere from a week to a month.' Comolli said it was common knowledge among inmates that Maxwell's aim was not to serve her full 20-year sentence and instead hoped to get a pardon from then President Joe Biden in exchange for information about Donald Trump in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Fresh air: Maxwell's keen on keeping fit and she was seen running laps on the track of FCI Tallahassee on November 6, 2022 Comolli said: 'I heard her tell another inmate that she had dirt on Trump and that it was going to get her a pardon from Biden. I guess Biden's camp just didn't want to go down that route.' There's still talk of a pardon. Last week, Maxwell was moved to Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, where there were no perimeter walls or wire fences. Her move came after she met and was questioned by Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. Comolli said: 'I believe Maxwell made a deal with the devil to get that transfer out of Tallahassee.' Life in the Tallahassee prison's markedly different from that of Camp Bryan. Comolli said: 'Breakfast would be a scoop of bran flakes and a carton of milk, which was usually frozen. Sometimes you'd get half a frozen pancake. 'Lunch could be two pieces of bread and a slice of salami or some potatoes, and dinner could be moldy lettuce, expired tomatoes, and lots of beans and rice.' With such unappealing food on offer, Comolli said inmates would often cook 'prison soup' in the dormitory by pouring hot water into an empty chip packet or lunch box and then add noodles, crushed corn chips, pickles, and cheese. But Maxwell never did that, according to Comolli: 'She had particular habits. For example, she didn't let anyone wash her clothes and she cleaned her own cubicle. 'She claimed to be allergic to the dye in the prison blanket so she was given special white hospital blankets. You could tell which was Maxwell's bed because of the white blankets. She was the only one in the whole prison who had white blankets. 'Maxwell didn't ask for anything from other inmates because she worked out that if you did, there was usually a favor attached to it. There's a price tag on everything in prison.' Comolli revealed that Maxwell did befriend one fellow prisoner, a doctor, who would follow her everywhere and joined her for meals. Comolli said: 'My own first real conversation with [Maxwell] was when I asked to borrow her prized New York Times Sunday edition. 'I said, "Hey, can I check out your New York Times?" and she replied, "Yes, but everybody else always wants to read it so you'll have to wait but it won't be a problem."' Comolli never saw Maxwell being disrespected by other inmates and the former socialite was able to converse in four languages. Maxwell received 'ungodly amounts of mail with stacks of daily letters. But under prison regulations, all letters - including envelopes - are photocopied before distribution so that inmates can't use drug-laced paper for smoking or consumption'. Comolli also saw Maxwell passing the time by working as a clerk at the law library in the prison's education building. She worked there three to five days a week. She said: '[Maxwell] was smart and knew the law well. She helped people with legal stuff and won respect from inmates for this - but she would not let anyone take advantage of her.' Of Maxwell's perceived persona, Comolli says: 'The evil pimp? I never saw that. I just saw a person trying to get through each day like the rest of us. She was active in her Jewish faith and took that seriously. She had a Torah and participated in the Sabbath. She was a participant in all Jewish activities.' Comolli joined Maxwell's twice-weekly yoga and Pilates classes for several months. Around a dozen inmates would head to a corner of the yard with prison mats that Maxwell had secured for them. Comolli said: 'She was in phenomenal shape, running up to five miles every day in the yard. She could outrun pretty much anybody. 'Whenever she would be walking back from the track and someone would holler out, "Hey, Maxwell, come here!" she would ignore them. She was good at ignoring people. Then sometimes she would be in a playful mood and she'd grab a basketball and start dribbling around the court and shooting hoops. She is very athletic.' But, even after Maxwell had been exercising, Comolli says she never saw her take a shower like other inmates and instead 'would just go straight to her bunk'. Her former cellmate said: 'I'm assuming she didn't want to put herself in a vulnerable position. I never saw her alone in the bathroom. She was on her guard 24/7. 'One day, she got her hair cut and took her hair with her rather than sweeping it up. I guessed she didn't want anything of hers that could possibly be sold or exploited.' Last month, Maxwell's brother Ian claimed that she feared for her safety in Tallahassee with 'serious staff shortages and more dangerous higher risk-category prisoners now being admitted to the prison'. But Comolli said there were no serious issues between Maxwell and other inmates, besides some name-calling. Recalling her last conversation with Maxwell, Comolli said: 'It was in the law library. I wanted to file a Freedom of Information application to see my federal file and she gave me some advice. 'I wouldn't say I got close to her during my time at Tallahassee but that was Maxwell's strategy. She refused to get close to anyone.'
