Laura Loomer, a prominent figure in Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, mocked the Department of Justice after it announced Thursday that it was doubling the reward for information leading to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s arrest from $25 million to $50 million.
Reacting to Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement, Loomer—who maintains influence in the Trump administration despite her criticisms of the DOJ over the handling of the Epstein files—responded with sarcasm.
“I won $50 million,” Loomer quipped, claiming that Maduro is currently at the Miraflores Palace, the official residence of Venezuela’s president.
She went on to allege that Trump administration officials, including a special envoy, met with Maduro recently. According to Loomer, Maduro expressed admiration for President Trump and offered to provide evidence of alleged election fraud in 2020.
“So they want to pretend like they don’t know where Maduro is instead of just talking to him? They were with him less than a month ago… This is some insane gaslighting. I need to get paid. Send me my $50 million!” she wrote.
Venezuela’s Response
On Thursday, Venezuela formally denounced the U.S. decision to raise the bounty on Maduro. Officials called it “the most ridiculous smokescreen we’ve ever seen” in response to the federal trafficking charges.
“The pathetic ‘bounty’… is the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement on Telegram, according to AFP.
What Pam Bondi Said
In a video statement, AG Bondi explained the DOJ’s decision.
“Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like TdA (Tren de Aragua), Sinaloa, and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly violence to our country,” Bondi said. “He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.”
U.S. agencies have been investigating Maduro since March 2020 over alleged ties to international drug trafficking.
