A federal judge has ordered the release of a former U.S. Green Beret who was indicted in connection with a failed 2020 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The former Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, was arrested in July after a four-year investigation into the amphibious raid that resulted in several combatants being killed by Venezuelan security forces. Two of Goudreau's U.S. Special Forces colleagues were also imprisoned by the Maduro government.
The plot, known as Operation Gideon or Bay of Piglets, was carried out by a group of Venezuelan army deserters allegedly armed and trained by Goudreau in neighboring Colombia. Goudreau claimed he was acting in concert with Venezuela's opposition to protect democracy.
