US pursuing second criminal probe into ousted Venezuelan leader Maduro

The United States continues its legal pursuit of Nicolas Maduro, the ousted leader of Venezuela, with reports indicating a second criminal investigation is underway. This new probe, operating out of the US Attorney's Office in Miami, has been active for several months and is reportedly focusing on potential money laundering allegations, according to sources familiar with the matter.

This development comes as Maduro already faces significant charges in federal court in Manhattan, including narco-terrorism conspiracy and other offenses related to alleged drug trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is currently awaiting trial while held in a Brooklyn jail. The initial New York indictment, filed in 2020, served as the legal basis for the US special forces operation that led to Maduro's capture.

The existence of a second investigation in Florida could provide the Justice Department with a crucial fallback option should legal complications arise in the New York case. This intensified legal pressure on Maduro reflects the US government's ongoing efforts to hold him accountable for alleged criminal activities. The timing of this revelation, with a lawyer for Maduro and a Justice Department spokesperson declining to comment, adds to the intrigue surrounding the ongoing legal proceedings.