DOJ Official Denies Trump Admin Reportedly Played ‘Godfather’ Against Maduro’s Successor

A senior DOJ official shot down the claim that the Trump administration was reportedly preparing charges against deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro’s successor a day before Trump praised her.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Branch disputed a Feb. 3 Reuters report that Miami-based federal prosecutors allegedly prepared possible corruption and money laundering charges against Rodríguez. Four people familiar with the matter claimed officials made it known to Rodríguez that she could face prosecution if she did not comply with America’s demands after the capture of her predecessor Nicolás Maduro.

Blanche took aim at the report Feb. 3 on X. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche disputed Reuter’s reporting of the story on social media. “Completely FALSE from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication,” he wrote.

Completely FALSE from @reuters. Not sure how such fake news makes its way to publication. pic.twitter.com/BDaZJ0umfa

— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) March 3, 2026

Rodriguez thanked Trump for his administration’s openness to mutual cooperation on Feb. 4 in response to Trump praising her on Truth Social. “I thank President @realDonaldTrump for the kind willingness of his government to work together on an agenda that strengthens binational cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the United States and Venezuela,” Rodríguez posted on X.

Agradezco al Presidente @realDonaldTrump la amable disposición de su gobierno para trabajar conjuntamente en una agenda que fortalezca la cooperación binacional en beneficio de los pueblos de Estados Unidos y Venezuela. https://t.co/Fh903XT1BO

— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) March 4, 2026

Trump praised the new Venezuelan leader for “doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well” in a Truth Social post on Feb. 4.

“The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both Countries is a very nice thing to see!” he added.

The drafted charges focused on the alleged money laundering of funds connected to Venezuela’s state oil firm PDVSA and focused on acts from 2021 to 2025, three sources told Reuters. The outlet noted it did not obtain documents and that the DOJ declined to comment. Reuters announced that they stood by the report in a statement.

Venezuelan state-owned mining company Minerven signed a multimillion dollar agreement Feb. 2 that would allow for the sale of up to around 2,204 pounds of gold to U.S. markets, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios. Rodríguez has also tried to square American pressure on energy and political detainees with with demands from loyalists to the socialist regime, according to The Latin Times.

Rodríguez, a member of Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela, served as the Vice President of Venezuela under Maduro from 2018 until his overthrow by U.S. forces in January. That month, Trump warned Rodríguez that she would “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” if she did not comply with U.S. demands.