Sponsors (5)
The bill increases U.S. leverage to pursue Maduro and disrupt illicit networks by authorizing large, asset-backed rewards and publicizing criminal findings, while shifting risks to diplomacy, victim compensation and asset-management/legal challenges that could impose costs or delays for taxpayers and federal agencies.
Potential informants and U.S. law enforcement: offering rewards up to $100,000,000 creates a strong incentive for actionable information that could help bring Maduro to justice and disrupt transnational criminal activity.
Taxpayers and the public: previously reported large seizures (about $450 million) and this legislation's use of seized assets signal meaningful disruption of illicit funds tied to the Maduro regime, reducing resources available to criminal networks.
Taxpayers: reward payments are limited to proceeds from seized Maduro-regime assets, avoiding the need for new appropriations or direct taxpayer outlays to fund the program.
Federal diplomats and U.S. foreign-policy makers: restating criminal findings and offering large rewards could complicate diplomacy or negotiations with Venezuela, narrowing U.S. policy options.
Victims and taxpayers: liquidating seized assets to pay large rewards may reduce funds available for victim compensation or other sanctions-related uses.
Federal agencies and taxpayers: large reward payouts and asset-linked payment authority could be legally or politically contested, producing litigation or diplomatic disputes that consume time and resources.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Allows the State Department to pay up to $100M in rewards for information leading to Nicolás Maduro’s arrest and conviction, funded by liquidating seized sanctions assets.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to pay up to $100 million in rewards to one or more people who provide information that directly leads to the arrest and conviction of Nicolás Maduro. Any such rewards must be paid from the liquidation of assets that have been seized or withheld from Maduro, other regime officials, and co-conspirators under U.S. sanctions authorities, and the bill overrides an existing statutory limit so the payments may be made. The bill also records findings about prior U.S. criminal charges against Maduro and related seizures tied to prosecutions of high-level regime officials and co-conspirators.
Introduced January 9, 2025 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress January 9, 2025