The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly preparing a criminal accusation against Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, for alleged corruption and money laundering, according to a Reuters exclusive. This move positions the judicial front as another element of political pressure from the Trump administration regarding Venezuela’s evolving political landscape. Reuters reports the Department of Justice is working on the charges with the president’s backing, and the accusation could serve as leverage to influence decisions in Caracas.
This development follows years of scrutiny. The Associated Press (AP) reported in January that Rodríguez has been on the DEA’s radar for years and was designated a “priority target” in 2022 – a label reserved for suspects considered high-impact in narcotics trafficking. AP states the agency has accumulated intelligence files since at least 2018, with allegations ranging from drug trafficking to gold smuggling, and her name appears in nearly a dozen DEA investigations.
According to AP, a confidential source indicated in 2021 that hotels on Isla Margarita were being used “as a front” for money laundering. The reporting also links Rodríguez to businessman Alex Saab, a central figure in the network of businesses associated with Chavismo and a long-time focus of U.S. Investigations. However, AP notes the U.S. Government has not publicly accused Rodríguez of any crimes, and she is not among the Venezuelan officials already indicted in drug trafficking cases linked to Maduro’s circle.
Escalation of Legal Strategy
The Reuters report of a corruption and money laundering accusation aligns with an escalation of legal strategy: moving from intelligence reports and agency investigations to the preparation of formal charges. Reuters suggests the criminal case could bolster Trump’s leverage at a time when Washington seeks to shape the post-Maduro scenario and influence the current leadership in Venezuela.
ABC reported last month on the economic circle surrounding Rodríguez, based on a DEA report. The agency has documentation on the lucrative business dealings of those around Rodríguez and her partner, Lebanese businessman Yussef Abou Nassif, with state contracts increasing during Venezuela’s economic crisis. The report details corporate structures abroad and commercial operations associated with public contracts, and also notes suspicions of links to organizations like Hezbollah or Hamas, clarifying these were unconfirmed accusations. Rodríguez has filed a lawsuit against ABC seeking to retract this information.
The convergence of these reports – Reuters on the preparation of an accusation, AP on the DEA’s history of interest, and ABC on the report detailing names, businesses, and figures within her inner circle – suggests the administration has a tool to pressure the acting president. A conviction is not necessary for pressure to be exerted; the credible threat of an indictment carries personal costs for a current leader: travel restrictions, financial exposure, risk of arrest outside the country, and a message to her circle that Venezuela’s future will also be decided in a U.S. Federal court.
“Silent” Preparation
Practically, this message is twofold. For Caracas, Rodríguez’s room for maneuver may be conditioned by a judicial threat of which Trump is aware and which can be activated or frozen depending on the evolution of relations with Washington, as Reuters points out. For the rest of Chavismo, it is a warning: the shift in balance is not limited to administrative sanctions, but can translate into criminal charges with names and surnames.
However, AP emphasizes a key point: the U.S. Government has not publicly charged Rodríguez. Reuters describes the preparation as “silent,” meaning it is still under construction, with political value precisely because of its ambiguity: advanced enough to exert pressure, opaque enough to meter its use.
This case would be prosecuted in Miami, according to ABC. The major case against Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores is being developed in New York, where Hugo ‘el Pollo’ Carvajal has already pleaded guilty. A potential accusation against Rodríguez would open a new judicial front parallel to that larger process, expanding the scope of the U.S. Legal offensive against the Venezuelan power structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Delcy Rodríguez accused of?
Delcy Rodríguez is reportedly facing potential criminal accusations of corruption and money laundering, according to a Reuters report.
Has Delcy Rodríguez been formally charged?
No, according to the reports, the U.S. Department of Justice is preparing the accusation, but no formal charges have been filed as of March 3, 2026.
What is the Trump administration’s potential motive for this action?
Reuters suggests the accusation could be used as leverage to influence decisions in Caracas and shape the political landscape in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Given these developments, what impact might this potential accusation have on the future of Venezuela’s political and economic stability?
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