US Congress votes sanctions on Venezuelan government officials and sends bill for Obama's signature

Thursday, December 11th 2014 - 11:35 UTC

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro railed against the measure's “insolent imperialist sanctions” after it was passed by the Senate

The US House of Representatives passed legislation to impose sanctions on Venezuelan government officials found to have violated protesters' rights during demonstrations earlier this year.

The Senate approved the measure on Monday, so the House's approval by voice vote sends it to the White House, where President Barack Obama's administration has signaled he would sign the legislation into law.

The measure would deny visas and freeze assets of officials involved in what the law considers a crackdown on political opponents during three months of street protests in Venezuela over crime and the economy that left 43 dead.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro railed against the measure's “insolent imperialist sanctions” after it was passed by the Senate. Venezuela has accused the opposition of plotting with Washington to topple his government.

Senator Robert Menendez, who sponsored the bill, called on other countries to follow the US lead.

“Governments in our hemisphere and throughout the world must stand in solidarity with the citizens of Venezuela by denying Venezuelan officials involved in human rights violations entry into their countries and access to their financial systems,” he said.

Categories: Politics, United States, Venezuela.

Tags: Nicolas Maduro, President Barack Obama, Robert Menendez, United States, US House of Representatives, Venezuela.

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ChrisR
About time.

Pity it doesn't go further, like topping the government, and no, I didn't miss the 'l'.
Dec 11th, 2014 - 11:47 am 0
Conqueror
@1. I understand. About time MADurine's 'fears' came true. Act for the people (too late) or get it through the head. Should it be side to side, from the back to the front, from the front to the back? Which one would 'improve' him? I tend to think front to back is best. Doesn't all crap come out of the back? A small round hole between the eyes. Or just something that explodes inside the empty space where a brain would be in normal people!
Dec 11th, 2014 - 03:43 pm 0
BOTINHO
If you shoot your mouth off against North America long enough as Venezuela has done since Chavez, and attempt to “bring the US to it's knees” over oil pricing and currency baskets, what do you think will happen to you ?

Maduro is inept as a leader, and stifles any and all dissent by brute force in the style of the Cubans who are running his intelligence services.

Both of the legislative houses of the Americans have cited this obvious abuse of the Venezuelan people, and the sanctions (which do work, viewing Russian sanctions currently ) will no doubt be signed into law by US President Obama.
Dec 11th, 2014 - 06:35 pm 0

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