The State Department took custody of Venezuela’s embassy and official residences in Washington and New York after Juan Guaidó was voted out as interim president and the country was left without diplomats recognized by the U.S., people familiar with the matter said.
The U.S. assumed control of all of Venezuela’s diplomatic properties as of Feb. 6, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information isn’t yet public. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that the agency had taken stewardship of the property and will keep control of it until Venezuela has a new diplomatic mission.
Closing Venezuela’s diplomatic mission is the latest fallout from the opposition’s decision to oust Guaidó and close his so-called interim government, which was recognized by the U.S. and included foreign ambassadors. In December, opposition lawmakers voted him out. Guaidó’s ambassador to the U.S. left his post shortly thereafter.
