Ex-Green Beret behind failed Venezuela raid released pending trial on weapons charges
A federal judge ordered the release Wednesday of a former U.S. Green Beret indicted in connection with a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge ordered the release Wednesday of a former U.S. Green Beret indicted in connection with a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, rejecting arguments he would flee while awaiting trial on weapons smuggling charges.
Jordan Goudreau was arrested in July after a four-year investigation into the amphibious raid that ended with several combatants killed by Venezuelan security forces and two of his U.S. Special Forces buddies locked away in a Maduro government prison.
The plot, exposed by The Associated Press two days before the incursion, was carried out by a ragtag group of Venezuelan army deserters whom Goudreau allegedly helped arm and train in neighboring Colombia.
Goudreau immediately claimed responsibility for Operation Gideon — or Bay of Piglets as the bloody fiasco came to be known — but said he was acting in concert with Venezuela's opposition to protect democracy.
