Overview
- The Associated Press reports that ex–Homeland Security Investigations officer Edwin López approached Gen. Bitner Villegas, Nicolás Maduro’s chief pilot, to secretly reroute a future flight so U.S. authorities could detain the Venezuelan leader.
- AP reviewed encrypted message exchanges showing López persisted for roughly a year, including after retiring, while pointing the pilot to an increased U.S. Justice Department reward for Maduro’s capture.
- Villegas refused the offer, told López that he would not betray his president, and then blocked further contact, according to the messages cited by AP.
- Current and former U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the approach occurred but described it as a personal initiative rather than a mission sanctioned by Washington; DHS and the State Department declined public comment.
- Caracas showcased the pilot on television and accused the United States of planning kidnapping and state terrorism, using the disclosure to rally support as the U.S. escalates pressure with higher rewards, aircraft seizures, military deployments in the Caribbean, and reported covert authorizations.