WASHNGTON – International news agency Reuters says it stands by its reporting that the United States government is quietly preparing a possible criminal case against Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez, despite a public denial from a senior U.S. Justice Department official.
According to the Reuters report, federal prosecutors in Miami have been working on a draft indictment that could include corruption and money-laundering charges related to Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA. The investigation reportedly focuses on financial activities between 2021 and 2025 and is based on information from multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The controversy erupted after a summary of the report was discussed on the Reuters World News podcast. Shortly afterward, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on social media platform X that the report was “completely false.” Reuters responded with an official statement saying it “stands by its reporting” that the U.S. Department of Justice is preparing a possible indictment against Rodríguez.
Draft Charges, Not a Formal Indictment
One of the key points emphasized in the report is that the preparation of draft charges does not automatically mean that a formal criminal case will be filed. For an indictment to proceed, prosecutors would normally need to present evidence before a grand jury, which would determine whether sufficient grounds exist to pursue the charges. Reuters said it could not confirm whether that stage of the process has begun.
Sources cited in the report say the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami has been developing the potential charges for several months. The alleged case centers on claims that Rodríguez was involved in laundering funds connected to PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company.
Wider U.S. Pressure on Caracas
The report also suggests that the possible legal action forms part of broader U.S. pressure on the Venezuelan government following the dramatic political developments earlier this year. In January, former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was captured in a U.S. operation and taken to New York to face charges including narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking.
Rodríguez assumed leadership shortly afterward and has been navigating a complex political environment both domestically and internationally. The Reuters report indicates that U.S. officials may also have provided her with a list of at least seven former senior officials and associates whom Washington would like to see detained or held in custody in Venezuela for possible extradition.
Political and Media Fallout
The situation has triggered strong reactions from several sides. Venezuelan officials have dismissed the report as misinformation and accused international media of attempting to destabilize the government. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has declined to comment formally on the alleged investigation beyond the public denial posted on social media.
Despite the dispute, Reuters has maintained that its reporting is based on multiple sources familiar with the discussions inside the U.S. government.