Advisers from Venezuela's Opposition Quit After Failed Maduro 'Kidnapping Operation'
Juan Rendon, a United States-based adviser, filed his resignation on Monday after he acknowledged having discussions with an American security firm to topple current Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Rendon is the opposition leader Juan Guaido's adviser.
Guaido accepted Rendon's decision. He also accepted the resignation of another legislator, Sergio Vergara, who did not give a reason behind his decision to leave. Both were members of Guaido's "crisis strategy commission."
In a statement, Guaido's press team said Rendon and Vergara showed their support for their cause. They also called various sectors to continue supporting the interim president.
Rendon has previously said he negotiated an exploratory agreement with Silvercorp USA-the security agency who was reportedly behind the attempted invasion. He claims he had cut ties with the firm's chief executive months before the failed attempt.
Rendon said Goudreau, Silvercorp's founder and the operation's leader, hired two former U.S. soldiers to proceed to capture Venezuelan President Maduro. The failed plot led to the deaths of eight members during the May 3 attempt. Venezuelan security forces captured over 40 suspects.
Three of the suspects were arrested Tuesday near the nation's capital. The national guard claimed the men were attempting to incite violence. Eight more were captured on Sunday and were seen kneeling on the ground before armed troops.
Airan Berry, one of the Americans captured during the plot, claimed they were responsible for invading Maduro's presidential palace and seize a local airport to fly the president out of the country.
Most of the prisoners are reportedly held in the country's most notorious political prison.
Guaido denounced claims he was involved in the invasion. The attempt, however, led others to question his leadership since he first declared Maduro as the overseer of the country's six-year economic collapse.
According to government official Diosdado Cabello, Guaido is currently seeking refuge in a European embassy after he was accused of being involved in the failed raid as well as several coups in the last two years. He was called to the prosecutor's office in March but did not appear.
Juan Guaido, who is currently 36-years-old, is the leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela. He is also a staunch critic of Maduro's socialist policies. The current Venezuelan president is in the middle of his second term following the 2018 election-the results of which were highly contested.
Guaido served as an elected legislator in one of Venezuela's states before he ran for the opposition. In the previous years, he led a mass protest where he supported plans to overtake the presidential position as the country faced a humanitarian crisis that forced thousands of resident to flee to other countries in search of better opportunities.
He also called for fair elections and claimed he would serve as the country's interim president until another election can be carried out. He claims Maduro's win was met with dispute following a lack of transparency.
Before Maduro took over the presidential seat, Guaido protested against late President Hugo Chavez who promoted the country's socialist government.
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