The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello in a bid to further pressure the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
The sanctions by the Treasury Department on one of Venezuela’s most powerful men came Friday just two days before the crisis-stricken country goes to the polls for an election Maduro is widely expected to win.
“The Venezuelan people suffer under corrupt politicians who tighten their grip on power while lining their own pockets,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
“We are imposing costs on figures like Diosdado Cabello who exploit their official positions to engage in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, embezzlement of state funds, and other corrupt activities.”
The new sanctions will freeze any US assets Cabello has and prevents Americans from doing business with him.
The Trump administration has already urged Latin America to cut off the…