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Venezuela's Ousted Prosecutor: I Was 'Illegitimately' Removed

by VOA News

   Venezuela's ousted attorney general, Luisa Ortega, said Wednesday that
   she was "illegitimately" removed from her position to stop her from
   investigating top officials for corruption.

   "I was illegitimately removed from my position," Ortega said,
   addressing a gathering of Mercosur trade bloc prosecutors in the
   Brazilian capital, Brasilia. "And a person [the new attorney general]
   was designated to usurp the duties of the attorney general of the
   republic. A person who has six corruption investigations and the first
   measure he took was to request the ... files to have the case
   dismissed."

   Ortega said that top officials in Venezuela were hoping to keep a
   number of corruption scandals, some related to drug trafficking and
   terrorism, covered up.

   Last Friday, the ousted chief prosecutor and her husband -- two of
   President Maduro's most outspoken critics -- fled Venezuela for
   Colombia, where they have since been granted asylum.

   Maduro has asked Interpol to put out a "red notice" warrant for the
   critic.

   Months of nearly daily protests against Maduro have left more than 120
   people dead and hundreds more injured or jailed.

   The opposition has blamed Maduro's policies for an economic crisis in
   the country. The government has argued that the opposition is working
   with the United States to violently overthrow Maduro's administration.