Message to INFODIO readers: investigative journalism, which is what this site does, takes lots of time. Visiting media looking for a quick run down on Venezuela's gargantuan corruption, have the decency to at least cite the source when plagiarising this site's content without attribution (exhibit Reuters here and here, exhibit Bloomberg here, exhibit OCCRP here). To all readers, do the right thing, the honest thing: support independent investigative journalism, help us expose rampant corruption. Note added 28/06/2021: impostors are using this site's former editor's full name, and a fake email address (alek.boyd.arregui@gmail.com) to send copyright infringement claims / take down requests to web hosting companies (exhibit Hostgator). The attempt is yet another effort paid by corrupt thugs to erase information about their criminal activities. Infodio.com has no issues with other websites / journalists using / posting information published here, so long as the source is properly cited.
Someone told me the other day that David Boies, America's pre-eminent litigator, is complaining about this website. Boies is not happy with leaks that paint him -and his client (PDVSA)- as liars. For the record, I have written to Boies, seeking his comment on involvement with PDVSA US Litigation Trust case.
Dear American friends, quite a lot has happened since Fusion GPS' most famous piece of "opposition research" was successfully "leaked" to the media. Imagine, just in the last few days, the DoJ issued -yet another- indictment ($1.2 billion money laundering scheme) on Venezuelan gargantuan corruption.
Focusing on Matthias Krull -the German-Venezuelan "banker" used by Francisco Convit, Raul Gorrin, Nicolas Maduro et al to launder $1.2 billion worth of PDVSA funds- is like pretending that El Chapo's driver was the head of the Cartel. When it comes to PDVSA, most roads tend to lead to Rafael Ramirez, who was the architect in chief of the world's largest looting of assets and money that anyone has seen.
A source with an intriguing tale of corruption brings me back to corruption issues. For a long while, PDVSA was LatAm’s largest energy conglomerate. Oilmen from Venezuela have spread far and wide since Hugo Chavez’s 1998 electoral victory.
Not a lot to add really. David Boies lied argued in different court hearings that Venezuela's interim Attorney General, Reinaldo Muñoz Pedroza, and PDVSA's legal counsel Hilda Cabeza, could not travel outside of Venezuela to be deposed, on specific orders from President Nicolas Maduro. Folks within Venezuela's Immigration Office leaked travel logs proving otherwise.
Further to the argument advanced by David Boies, regarding inability to produce Venezuelan officials Reinaldo Muñoz and Hilda Cabeza for depositions related to PDVSA US Litigation Trust case (allegedly on express orders from President Nicolas Maduro), travel logs of Muñoz and Cabeza show that they have travelled all right. Just not to where Boies wants them...
PACER continues to be the only venue where those of us interested in PDVSA / Venezuela legal affairs can keep tabs on Nicolas Maduro's regime actions. The issue of standing, whether Litigation Trust has: 1) a valid legal footing under Venezuelan law, and 2) whether its signatories had valid powers to assign Venezuela's sovereign claims to David Boies, continues to be discussed.
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