Trump admin tells Miami to halt probe of Venezuela leader

The Trump administration has instructed federal prosecutors in Miami to avoid pursuing criminal investigations into Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, according to current and former U.S. law enforcement officials. The directive, described as an effort to avoid disrupting U.S. efforts to stabilize Venezuela following the capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, signals a significant shift in Washington’s approach to Caracas.

A Justice Department spokesperson stated there was never an investigation into Rodríguez to shut down, directly contradicting the accounts of officials who spoke anonymously. These officials said the instruction to “stand down” was communicated earlier this year. Rodríguez, a longtime figure of interest to the Drug Enforcement Administration, has never been criminally charged in the United States, though DEA records show her name surfaced in numerous investigations dating to at least 2018, involving allegations ranging from drug trafficking to money laundering.

The move coincides with a broader warming of relations. In recent months, the U.S. has lifted sanctions on Rodríguez, recognized her as Venezuela’s sole head of state, and authorized...