The Trump administration has ordered federal prosecutors to halt criminal investigations into Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's powerful vice president, marking a dramatic reversal in U.S. policy toward the Maduro regime, according to an Associated Press exclusive.
The directive represents a stunning about-face from years of aggressive U.S. enforcement against Venezuelan officials. The Drug Enforcement Administration had been tracking Rodríguez since 2018 on allegations connected to narcotics trafficking and corruption, building what former officials described as a substantial investigative file.
Sources familiar with the matter told AP that the order came directly from senior Trump administration officials and affects multiple ongoing prosecutorial efforts targeting Rodríguez. The timing coincides with Venezuela's worsening economic crisis, which has pushed inflation back above 600% annually and deepened the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions.
Rodríguez serves as one of Nicolás Maduro's closest confidants and has wielded extraordinary power within the regime. She previously served as foreign minister and has been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and other governments for her role in what critics describe as the systematic dismantling of Venezuelan democracy.
The decision signals a potential thaw in U.S.-Venezuela relations, though the motivations remain unclear. Some analysts suggest the move could be linked to negotiations over migration flows or energy supplies, as Venezuela still possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves despite the collapse of its petroleum industry under Chavista mismanagement.
Former U.S. officials expressed alarm at the directive. "When you tell prosecutors to stand down on someone the DEA has been investigating for years, you're making a statement about priorities," one former Justice Department official told AP. "The question is what we're getting in return."
The revelation comes as Venezuela's humanitarian crisis continues to drive migration across Latin America. More than seven million Venezuelans have fled the country since the economy began collapsing in 2015, creating the largest refugee crisis in Latin American history.
In Venezuela, as across nations experiencing collapse, oil wealth that once seemed a blessing became a curse—and ordinary people pay the price. While regime insiders like Rodríguez allegedly enriched themselves and maintained access to dollars and imported goods, ordinary Venezuelans faced hyperinflation, food scarcity, and the complete breakdown of healthcare and public services.
The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the decision. The State Department declined to respond to questions about whether the move represents a broader shift in Venezuela policy or part of specific negotiations with the Maduro government.
Venezuelan opposition figures, including María Corina Machado, have long accused the regime of using corruption networks to maintain power while the country's infrastructure crumbles. The decision to drop investigations into Rodríguez may complicate U.S. credibility in supporting democratic forces within Venezuela.
The directive also raises questions about accountability for officials accused of profiting from Venezuela's collapse. International prosecutors and human rights organizations have documented extensive networks of corruption involving Venezuelan officials, with billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from state coffers even as public hospitals ran out of basic medicines and infrastructure deteriorated.
