Venezuelan probe into Erik Prince’s $1 million anti-Maduro fundraiser

Venezuelan authorities began an investigation on Tuesday into an online fundraiser led by the founder of the controversial US security firm Blackwater. Erik Prince, the man behind Blackwater, claims to have gathered over $1 million to support the ousting of President Nicolas Maduro. The “Ya Casi Venezuela” campaign website was introduced in early September in response to the disputed presidential election on July 28. President Maduro declared victory in the election, a result the opposition has contested, alleging it was rigged. Much of the global community has refused to acknowledge Maduro’s win, insisting on detailed election results.

“Ya Casi Venezuela” launched earlier this month on social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X. It promises Venezuelans they will witness and play a role in the fall of Maduro’s regime but does not specify the methods to achieve this. Initially, the campaign featured a countdown to September 16, marking the start of a movement to fulfil the will of the Venezuelan people. When the countdown ended, it transitioned into a fundraiser led by Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL with ties to former US President Donald Trump.

Prince, in a video posted on social media, stated, “Venezuela, you voted on July 28 for freedom. Now, it’s time to vote with your dollars. Democracy will prevail, we are almost there.” The video has since garnered 5.9 million views. Three days later, Prince claimed in another video that the campaign had already raised over $1 million. The Venezuelan opposition has distanced itself from the campaign and did not respond to requests for comment. Attempts to contact “Ya Casi Venezuela” about its plans also went unanswered.

⚠️| URGENTE| Erik Prince ya tiene permiso suficiente para ir contra el régimen venezolano tras la nueva orden de arresto por parte de la Justicia Argentina contra Maduro, Diosdado Cabello y otros jerarcas chavistas, por crímenes de lesa humanidad en Venezuela 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/HNLjR2Zqlg

— Máscara Social (@grubbymask) September 24, 2024

Erik Prince, known for pioneering private military operations, founded Blackwater, which has since been renamed Academi. The firm gained notoriety when its contractors were accused of killing 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007. Four Blackwater security guards convicted in connection with the incident were pardoned by Trump in 2020. Prince’s sister, Betsy DeVos, served as Trump’s education secretary.

Maduro has linked “Ya Casi Venezuela” to his assertions that Western intelligence agencies are attempting to overthrow him. At a recent public event in Caracas, he referenced the campaign by saying, “Faced with countdown clocks, we have to clean our rifles.” Last week, Venezuela announced the arrest of four Americans, two Spanish nationals, and a Czech national on suspicion of plotting to assassinate the president. Washington, Madrid, and Prague have denied any involvement in such a plot.

Blackwater founder Erik Prince asks for $100 million for the heads of Maduro and Cabello
Prince announced this on his X page and addressed US President and Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/T6efNKuTv1

— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) August 2, 2024

In a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Maduro warned about the “hiring of mercenaries to invade the country.” Guterres expressed concern over human rights violations in Venezuela, where 27 people were killed and over 2,000 arrested during post-election unrest.