Former Green Beret attacks the CIA and the FBI for failed incursion in Venezuela in 2020

A former Green Beret accused of plotting an invasion of Venezuela in 2020 to try to overthrow Nicolás Maduro lashed out at the CIA and FBI on Friday, claiming they sabotaged his efforts to overthrow the leftist president. His lawyers claimed that he had the support of the government of then-President Donald Trump for the clandestine mission.

Jordan Goudreau’s lawyers stated in court papers for the first time that the decorated combat veteran had “authority from the highest levels of the Executive branch” for the amphibious raid that left several fighters dead and two of his Special Forces colleagues dead. United States in a Venezuelan prison.

The documents filed in federal court in Tampa, where Goudreau faces gun trafficking charges, coincide with his reappearance Friday on social media, where he posted a video in which he claimed that a fearful U.S. government strengthened Maduro.

The video was released as Maduro was sworn in for his third term amid pushback from the United States and others who believe he stole last year’s election.

“I want to congratulate the CIA and the FBI for a job well done. Due to his efforts in Venezuela in 2020 to sabotage my operation instructed by the Executive branch, Nicolás Maduro is being sworn in today,” Goudreau commented, showing a thumbs up, in a short video posted on Instagram. “Good job, guys!”

The CIA and FBI declined to comment.

Goudreau was arrested in Manhattan last year on federal gun trafficking charges in connection with the bizarre scheme.

Two days before the planned raid, the AP published an investigation detailing the Goudreau’s efforts to raise funds for the raid by the Trump administration, Venezuela’s opposition, and wealthy Americans interested in investing in Venezuela’s oil industry, should Maduro be overthrown.

The AP investigation found no evidence that the U.S. government approved the invasion, and U.S. officials have denied having any role in it.

The motley group of deserters from the Venezuelan Army whom Goudreau allegedly helped arm and train in neighboring Colombia proceeded with the raid, but were captured by Venezuelan security forces, who had already infiltrated the group. Several died and two of Goudreau’s fellow Green Berets spent years in Venezuelan prisons until a prisoner swap took place last year.

The raid dubbed “Operation Gideon” ended up delivering a public relations coup for Maduro, who has long accused the United States of carrying out covert actions to destabilize his government, and was widely derided as “the Bay of Pigs.” in reference to the Cuban fiasco of 1961.

Goudreau’s lawyers allege that he was recruited for “Operation Gideon” by Keith Schiller, who was for many years personal bodyguard to current President-elect Trump. They noted that Schiller, who was not employed by the US government at the time, took him to a meeting with several advisers to opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

Miami-based lawyer Marissel Descalzo said in the court document that those attending the meeting were looking for someone to help “Guaidó with plans to overthrow President Maduro.”

“Mr. Goudreau was informed that the operation was authorized and approved by the Executive branch, particularly by Vice President Mike Pence,” Descalzo wrote.

The then-Trump administration had made no secret of its desire to see Maduro out, and Goudreau’s one-man security company, Florida-based Silvercorp USA, had signed a contract with Guaidó to explore a mission to capture Maduro. , for whom a $15 million reward was being offered on drug trafficking charges in the United States.

On Friday, President Joe Biden’s government increased the reward to $25 million in protest of Maduro’s stay in power.

Goudreau also claimed that he met in Washington with two US officials, one of whom briefly worked in Pence’s office. The former vice president has denied having knowledge of the plot and has stated that Goudreau’s allegations are a complete fabrication.

Guaidó’s associates in Miami cut off all communication with Goudreau several months before the raid, saying they believed he was mentally unstable and had no support from the U.S. government for the covert operation.

The Trump administration has distanced itself from any ties to the plot, but Goudreau appears to be holding out hope that he will receive a pardon once the president-elect returns to office on January 20.

In a video published a few days ago, Goudreau compared his judicial problems to those faced by those accused of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to try to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election.

“I can’t wait for Trump to take office and absolutely annihilate the Department of Justice,” he says in that video.

Filmmaker Jen Gatien, who made a documentary about Goudreau called “Men at War,” put up her $2 million Manhattan apartment as bail to secure Goudreau’s release as she prepares for a trial set to begin in April. As conditions of his release, he is not allowed to leave the state of Florida, where he resides in the home of a fellow veteran.

Prosecutors said they plan to present DNA evidence at Goudreau’s trial, aiming to show that he handled some of the 60 weapons he allegedly trafficked from Florida to Colombia as part of the operation against Maduro.

Prosecutors allege Goudreau also spent $90,000 on a yacht that he used to transport ammunition, body armor plates and magazines for AR-15 rifles.

The yacht, purchased in Miami, sank in the Caribbean Sea. Goudreau and an unidentified associate were rescued by a passing oil tanker.

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