Rep. Gallego Statement on Venezuela
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) issued the following statement on the situation in Venezuela:
"The sham vote in Venezuela on Sunday is an example of what can happen when democratic institutions fail a basic test of credibility with the people and the wider world. Violence and illegality during and after the vote, including the government's arrest of opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma last night, will only compound the hunger, inflation, and a general crisis of confidence that President Maduro has brought on himself and imposed on the Venezuelan people.
"Moving forward, I expect the State Department and Treasury Department to responsibly censure and punish the Maduro government for anti-democratic power grabs like the one we have seen since Sunday. The Treasury Department's designation of Maduro himself for sanctions is a good start, but the Administration must also watch for and punish extrajudicial violence, human rights violations, and corruption as it weighs further sanctions against Venezuelan individuals, government organizations, and businesses. Each illegitimate act makes further sanctions, including on oil exports from Venezuela, more likely.
"Finally, I urge President Maduro, the security services, and the opposition to heed the sentiments of Pope Francis, Venezuela's neighboring states, and responsible leaders worldwide and work to resolve this crisis peacefully. Civil conflict will not solve Venezuela's problems, it will prolong and deepen the misery of millions of innocents."