US lawmaker asks Vitol, Trafigura about Venezuela oil deals

The top Democrat of a U.S. House investigation committee asked Vitol 'and Trafigura on Thursday about any correspondence they had with the Trump Administration before?the U.S. captured Venezuela's leader. He wanted to?determine who benefited from this action, he said.

Robert Garcia, a Representative, asked Russell Hardy and Richard Holtum of Trafigura to provide all communication between their companies, and members of the Trump Administration, from January last year up until today.

The U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the early part of this month. Trump's administration will now manage Venezuela's oil sale "indefinitely." Vitol & Trafigura received the first U.S. licences for loading and exporting Venezuelan oil.

Why it's important

The oversight committee is able to conduct investigations on any issue. The Democrats don't 'currently' control the House. However, President Donald Trump's Republican allies are fighting to keep control of the House during the November midterm elections.

KEY QUOTE

Garcia wrote that the Committee was interested in knowing the Trump Administration's plans regarding the sale and marketing Venezuelan oil as well as their intentions with respect to the revenue generated. We also want to know what agreements your companies have made with the Trump Administration about Venezuelan commodities and their role in carrying out actions related to Venezuela.

Vitol and Trafigura didn't immediately respond to comments.

CONTEXT

A dozen 'House Democrats' sent a warning letter on Wednesday to 21 companies that attended a White House meeting in January about the development of Venezuelan oil, including Vitol, Trafigura and Trafigura. They warned them any investment or transaction they made there would be fraught with legal and financial risk. (Reporting from Timothy Gardner in Washington, Robert Harvey in London and Toby Chopra in editing)

(source: Reuters)