{"id":3166,"date":"2025-11-25T16:42:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theinformantusa.com\/?p=3166"},"modified":"2025-11-25T16:42:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:42:14","slug":"u-s-pushes-criminal-case-against-former-spanish-president-zapatero-following-el-pollo-carvajal-revelations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theinformantusa.com\/?p=3166","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Pushes Criminal Case Against Former Spanish President Zapatero Following \u201cEl Pollo\u201d Carvajal Revelations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Judicial Authorities Weigh Opening Penal Proceedings Over Alleged<\/strong>
Financial Links to Maduro Regime<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly moving to open a criminal case against former Spanish Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Luis Rodr\u00edguez Zapatero, whom officials consider a potential \u201cnecessary collaborator\u201d of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s regime, based on recent key disclosures from former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo \u201cEl Pollo\u201d Carvajal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carvajal, extradited to the United States in 2023, pleaded guilty to narcotrafficking and narcoterrorism charges related to the notorious \u201cCartel of the Suns\u201d\u2014the Venezuelan military-linked drug trafficking organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His ongoing cooperation with U.S. authorities includes providing \u201csolid and precise information\u201d implicating Zapatero in alleged financial transactions through Venezuela\u2019s state oil company PDVSA during Zapatero\u2019s various governmental negotiations with Caracas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The information points to a network of financial intermediaries operating under the direction of Maduro\u2019s trusted ally Jorge Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Federal prosecutors have requested cooperation from Spain to investigate Zapatero\u2019s financial activities and asset growth connected to his involvement with the Venezuelan government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case relates to a prior civil RICO lawsuit filed in Florida aiming to dismantle the complex criminal enterprise tied to the Maduro administration, including high-ranking officials like Vice President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pending criminal charges against Zapatero could lead to asset seizures or an international arrest warrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials are deliberating over the severity of sanctions and penalties to be applied, ranging from moderate restrictions to \u201cexemplary punishments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legal process is being closely watched internationally due to its potential diplomatic repercussions between the United States and Spain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

U.S. Judicial Authorities Weigh Opening Penal Proceedings Over Alleged Financial Links to Maduro Regime The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly moving to open a criminal case against former Spanish Prime Minister Jos\u00e9 Luis Rodr\u00edguez Zapatero, whom officials consider a potential \u201cnecessary collaborator\u201d of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s regime, based on recent key disclosures from former Venezuelan intelligence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[771,246,1177,168,1176],"class_list":["post-3166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-771","tag-maduro","tag-usjustice","tag-venezuela","tag-zapatero"],"yoast_head":"\nU.S. Pushes Criminal Case Against Former Spanish President Zapatero Following \u201cEl Pollo\u201d Carvajal Revelations - The Informant USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theinformantusa.com\/?p=3166\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"U.S. Pushes Criminal Case Against Former Spanish President Zapatero Following \u201cEl Pollo\u201d Carvajal Revelations - 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