The U.S. State Department has officially denied allegations of offering Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amnesty in a bid to persuade him to resign.

A Wall Street Journal report of a supposed amnesty offer to Maduro by the Biden administration has been blasted by U.S. officials as false, as Fox News reports.

On Monday, an article in the Journal suggested the existence of secretive negotiations between the U.S. and Venezuelan officials involving an amnesty proposal for Maduro. The report cited anonymous sources who claimed that these discussions occurred in Doha, Qatar during meetings in June and September 2023.

The State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, addressed these allegations in a press briefing, categorically denying the existence of any such offers. "That is not true," Patel affirmed, "We have not made any offers to Maduro or others since this election."

Despite the WSJ claim, the U.S. administration maintains that no concrete proposals have been put forward regarding Maduro's resignation or amnesty for his close associates.

Details of Alleged Secret Meetings Emerge

According to the Journal, Maduro's chief adviser Jorge Rodríguez, and former White House National Security Council senior director Juan González were supposedly involved in discussions about potential sanctions relief and the controversial amnesty proposal.

These meetings, however, have not been officially confirmed by the U.S., adding layers of speculation and uncertainty to the claims.

The report also extended the alleged amnesty offer to include top officers in Maduro's regime, who are currently facing international charges related to drug trafficking. Yet, this detail remains unverified as the State Department has not responded to inquiries regarding the specifics of these allegations.

International Response and Election Controversy

In the wake of the July 28 election, Vanessa Vidal Castellanos from the White House National Security Council reiterated the U.S. stance on the matter during a press statement. "Since the July 28 election, we have not made any specific offers of amnesty to Nicolás Maduro or others," she stated.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the international consensus which recognizes opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as the legitimate winner of the recent election.

Despite Maduro's refusal to step down, Blinken and other international leaders have called for a transparent resolution to the electoral dispute.

The U.N. General Assembly has even offered to mediate to ensure a peaceful transition based on the electoral outcomes. Meanwhile, Maduro's administration continues to suppress dissent within Venezuela, having arrested thousands of protesters and maintaining tight control over the military and judiciary systems.

U.S. Continues to Pressure Maduro's Regime

Castellanos further detailed ongoing U.S. efforts to influence Venezuelan political dynamics. "In coordination with our partners, we are considering a range of options to incentivize and pressure Maduro to recognize the election results and will continue to do so, but the responsibility is on Maduro and Venezuela’s electoral authorities to come clean on the election results," she explained.

These statements underline a broader strategy of international diplomatic pressure aimed at restoring democratic integrity in Venezuela. Blinken added, "In the days since the election, we have consulted widely with partners and allies around the world, and while countries have taken different approaches in responding, none have concluded that Nicolás Maduro received the most votes this election."

"Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election," Blinken asserted.

Conclusion

In summary, the U.S. State Department has denied claims from the Wall Street Journal that an amnesty offer was made to Nicolás Maduro in exchange for his resignation.

These denials come amidst international calls for Maduro to accept the results of the July 28 election, which recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the rightful winner.

The ongoing political crisis in Venezuela continues to draw international attention as the U.S. and its allies seek to support democratic processes and human rights in the region.