Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Rick Scott, and Ted Cruz have introduced a bill aimed at increasing the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The legislation, known as the Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials (STOP MADURO) Act, proposes raising the maximum reward from $15 million to $100 million.

The introduction of this bill comes ahead of Venezuela's inauguration of President-elect Edmundo González. According to Senator Cassidy, "The people of Venezuela rightfully elected President-Elect Edmundo Gonzalez," highlighting a contrast between democracy and dictatorship in Venezuela.

Senator Scott emphasized the support for Venezuelans' desire for freedom and democracy: "The Venezuelan people have made it overwhelmingly clear that President-elect Edmundo González is their rightful leader... My bill, the STOP MADURO Act, will increase the maximum reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro to $100 million."

Senator Cruz described Maduro as a "corrupt dictator" and expressed his support for holding him accountable: "The STOP MADURO Act helps badly needed efforts to hold him and his regime accountable."

The proposed reward would be funded through seized assets from Maduro's regime rather than taxpayer money. Asset seizures by U.S. authorities reportedly total around $450 million.