U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar
Salazar's official Youtube channel
GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar threatened Venezuela's interim regime for recapturing a political leader just hours after releasing him.
The man in question is Juan Pablo Guanipa, who had been incarcerated for over eight months. He is the former governor of the Zulia state and a leader of the Primero Justicia party, as well as a close ally of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. He was detained in late May and accused of terrorism and treason.
Guanipa had been in hiding for ten months after the 2024 presidential elections, where the regime claimed victory but failed to show supporting documentation. In contrast, the opposition presented voting tallies showing candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia clearly won the election.
Guanipa was released on Sunday, but regime officials said on Monday that he was taken back to prison hours later for not complying with the "conditions" of his release.
"The measures agreed by the courts are conditional on the strict compliance of the obligations imposed and failure to comply allows the judicial body to revoke or substitute the decision," said the prosecutor's office in a press release.
In this context, Salazar sent a message to the interim regime, led by Delcy Rodriguez since the capture of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.
"The kidnapping of Juan Pablo Guanipa, hours after his release, confirms the usual pattern: all Communist tyrants simulate dialogue and reconciliation just to win time and cling to power."
El secuestro de Juan Pablo Guanipa, horas después de su liberación, confirma el patrón de siempre: todo tirano comunista simula diálogo y reconciliación solo para ganar tiempo y aferrarse al poder.Si el régimen quisiera reconciliación real, permitiría partidos libres, libertad…
— María Elvira Salazar 🇺🇸 (@MaElviraSalazar) February 9, 2026
"If the regime wanted real reconciliation, it would free political parties, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. It doesn't. The Rodriguez siblings are responsible of this kidnapping. The regime must respond for the physical well-being of Juan Pablo Guanipa and release him immediately. If something happens, there will be serious consequences. The United States is watching," Salazar added.
The regime announced in late January it would shut down an infamous detention center known for keeping and torturing political prisoners and release all political prisoners. However, it said later that an amnesty proposed would only apply to 10 incidents, rather than a large period of time to allow for the release of all prisoners.
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Tags: Venezuela, María Elvira Salazar, Delcy rodriguez