The United States has turned down a prisoner swap offer by Venezuelan officials that would have released an opposition leader of President Nicolas Maduro.

The jailed opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has been charged for inciting violence during anti-government protests in early 2014. On Sunday, Maduro said he would free Lopez if the U.S. released Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Maduro said, "[The] only way I would use my presidential powers [to release Lopez] would be to put him on a plane to the United States, to leave him there, and that they hand over Oscar Lopez Rivera -- man for man".

According to U.S. officials, Lopez Rivera is serving a 70-year sentence for conspiracy to secure independence for Puerto Rico and later attempting to escape from prison. He was also involved with the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), who were responsible for more than 100 bombings in Chicago, New York and other U.S. cities.

During Monday's U.S. State Department briefing, spokesperson Jen Psaki said the U.S. is aware of Maduro's comments but only through the press and "not diplomatic channels."

"There's no comparison in our view between these cases. ... We've repeatedly called for the release of all political prisoners, a call that has been echoed by many international and multilateral entities," Psaki said. "You have President Maduro proposes exiling opposition figures rather than having a discussion about the real concerns and problems facing Venezuela.

"As it relates to this specific case, we -- it is unfortunate that someone, Leopoldo Lopez, who should be presumed innocent, is being sentenced on national television by Venezuela's president without the conclusion of a trial," Psaki said.

Inquiries about Lopez Rivera, however, Psaki referred to the U.S. Department of Justice. Meanwhile, Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has called for the White House to release Lopez Rivera. A U.S. Embassy in Caracas said he had no immediate statement on Maduro's statements for the prisoner swap.

Lopez's supporters claim that he's a political prisoner, a title also echoed by President Barack Obama. Maduro, however, said Lopez Rivera is the real political prisoner.

The Venezuelan government said the protests resulted in the deaths of 40 people, regardless of political-party affiliation, and Lopez was key in stirring opposition. Lopez handed himself to authorities on Feb. 18, 2014.

Maduro's statement comes as Venezuelan ally Cuba agreed to release 53 political prisoners at the request of the U.S. as part of normalizing relations between the island country and the U.S. A senior Obama administration noted three Cubans, who were imprisoned in the U.S., were sent back to Cuba as part of the exchange.

One U.S. intelligence asset, who had been prisoned in Cuba for approximately 20 years, was commended for the "heroic work for the United States at great risk to himself, enabling the prosecution of a number of individuals, including the Cuban Five." The Cuban Five are five Cuban intelligence officers who were arrested in the U.S. in September 1998. The Cuban government initially denied connection with the five men until three years later in 2001. The senior Obama administration official added the release "of a certain number of prisoners" was important for the U.S, but the opportunity also came to explore "political cooperation."

U.S. officials have not commented on how the 53 individuals were selected. One intelligence asset has returned to the U.S., but the status of the remaining prisoners is unknown.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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