US Frees Maduro Ally for ‘Fat Leonard’ Amid Prisoner Swap
- Move comes as part of US push for democratic elections
- US citizens Luke Denman and Airan Berry freed in Caracas
Posters during a rally in support of Alex Saab in Caracas, Venezuela in April 2022.
Photographer: Gaby Oraa/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Venezuela freed 10 Americans and handed over an infamous defense contractor nicknamed “Fat Leonard” in exchange for a close ally and financier of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, a blockbuster exchange that’s part of a broader diplomatic detente between the two adversaries.
The financier, Alex Saab, was swapped for Americans including Luke Denman and Airan Berry, two former Green Berets who were jailed on terrorism allegations over a failed 2020 plot to try to overthrow Maduro, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations.