2014: Maria Machado Was Charged with Conspiracy to Assassinate President Maduro                                                                                     

On January 23, 2014, Maria Machado and Leopoldo Lopez called on supporters to “Light up the streets of Venezuela” as part of a strategy called “the exit” of the government headed by President Nicolas Maduro. Riots in wealthy municipalities went on daily for three months. Rioters erected street barriers paralyzing traffic, burnt busses, burnt government buildings and 73 people were killed. On February 12, Lopez was arrested and charged with inciting the riots. Machado could not be arrested because she was a member of the National Assembly and had parliamentary immunity. On March 24, Machado was expelled from the National Assembly.

On March 18, the Attorney General began an investigation into a plot to assassinate President Maduro based on complaints from a group of National Assembly deputies and another anonymous one. A Public Prosecutor, Katherine Haringhton, was appointed to oversee the case. The National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) was authorized to intercept or record private communications, an action that was ordered by the 6th Control Court of the Caracas Metropolitan Area.[1]

On May 28, some of the intercepted emails and phone conversations were released publicly, with the Attorney General arguing that it was a matter of national security and that the threat needed to be exposed to the public. [2] Jorge Rodriguez, mayor of Libertador municipality and leader of the governing political party, highlighted several emails sent by Maria Machado:[2]

·        “I believe the time has come to join forces, make the necessary calls, and obtain the financing to annihilate Maduro… and the rest will come falling down.”

·        “I’m fed up with waiting. We have to take out this trash-starting with the one heading it.”

·        “We have a bigger checkbook than the government.”

On June 16, Machado testified as a witness at a hearing on the assassination investigation after being summoned by the Attorney General.[3] She was not charged, but was prohibited from leaving the Country. Arrest warrants were issued for six opposition figures who were recipients of her emails and were summoned for the Hearing, but who hadn’t shown up.

In September, a video was released showing the terrorist Lorent Gomez Saleh referring to a plan to kill 20 people in 48 hours, with the aim of generating chaos that would cause the government to collapse.[4] On October 10, a video was released in which Saleh refers to a meeting with Gisela Matamoros, a Machado advisor.[4] 

On December 3, Machado was charged by Haringhton with conspiracy and, if found guilty could be sentenced to 8 to 16 years in prison. [5]  The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying:[6]

·        “The charges against Machado raise concerns once again about Venezuela’s arbitrary use of prosecutorial power to silence and punish government critics.”

Machado was never arrested; her Case never came to trial.

In April 2015, President Obama declared a U.S. National Emergency due to the situation in Venezuela. He sanctioned seven government officials for human rights offenses, including Katherine Haringhton saying:

•         “Haringhton charged several opposition members including Maria Machado and Antonio Ledezma, with the crime of conspiracy related to alleged assassination/coup plots based on implausible – and in some cases fabricated-information.”

  

1.      Alba Ciudad, The Prosecutor’s office Authorized the Interception of calls and emails, May 30, 2014

2.      Venezuelanalysis, Venezuelan Government Exposes Plot to assassinate president Maduro, opposition rejects Charge,5/31/2014.

3.      Venezuelanalysis, Maria Corina Machado is witness in Maduro Assassination Case in Venezuela, June 18, 2014.

4.      Alba Ciudad, New Video by Lorent Gomez Saleh links Maria Corina Machado to Terrorist Acts, October 10, 2014.

5.      New York Times, Venezuelan Opposition Politician Charged in Plot to Kill President, December 3, 2014.

6.      U.S, Department of State, Venezuela: Maria Corina Machado Faces Conspiracy Charges, December 3, 2014

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