Witness Points to Chávez In Argentina Election Case
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Witness Points to Chávez In Argentina Election Case
MIAMI -- A U.S. government witness in the case of a seized suitcase holding $800,000 has told FBI investigators that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was personally involved in the affair, according to a U.S. court filing.
The filing, dated June 27, came from a lawyer for a defendant in the case. Edward Shohat represents Franklin Durán, a former associate of Carlos Kauffmann, the government witness. Kauffmann pleaded guilty in March to federal charges and agreed to testify against Durán in exchange for lighter punishment.
Based on what Kauffman told FBI agents, Shohat said in the filing, "Kauffmann can be expected to testify . . . that co-defendant Moises Maionica told him and others that President Chávez . . . had put [intelligence service chief Henry] Rangel Silva in charge, and that Rangel told him that President Chávez personally was involved in the matter," Duran's lawyer said in the court filing.
Maionica has also pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case.
U.S. prosecutors have alleged that Chávez's government sent the $800,000 to Argentina for the election campaign of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who won Argentina's presidential election in October. Fernández de Kirchner has called the accusations "garbage."
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-- From News Services
