Via USA Today:
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration targeted 10 current or former Venezuelan officials with sanctions Thursday, accusing them of being part of a campaign to undermine local elections, censor the press and engage in other corrupt activities.
The sanctions represent an ongoing effort by U.S. officials to put pressure on the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which it has called an “illegitimate dictatorship” since changing the constitution to consolidate his hold on power.
The latest round of sanctions — the fifth so far this year — follows the Oct. 15 state elections, which the U.S. says were “marked by numerous irregularities that strongly suggest fraud helped the ruling party unexpectedly win a majority of governorships.”
The U.S. is also blocking the assets of key Venezuelan officials accused of corruption in a state-run food aid program.
“As the Venezuelan government continues to disregard the will of its people, our message remains clear: the United States will not stand aside while the Maduro regime continues to destroy democratic order and prosperity in Venezuela,” Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said in a statement Thursday.