article_snippet: Venezuela has made many similar claims in recent years, without ever substantiating many similar claims.
article_snippet: Venezuela has in recent weeks accused the United States of being behind an alleged coup plot.
article_snippet: The officials include George W. Bush, former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, former CIA Director George Tenet and several current members of Congress, including Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Bob Menendez and Mario Diaz-Balart.
article_snippet: Following the Maduro's announcement Diaz-Balart reacted via Twitter, saying Diaz-Balart has "always wanted to travel to a corrupt country that is not a free democracy.
article_snippet: And now Castro's lap dog won't let me!"
article_snippet: A relatively small, but noisy crowd, dressed mostly in revolutionary red, applauded and cheered the measures announced by the President from a platform outside the presidential palace in downtown Caracas.
article_snippet: We love the Venezuelan people and have served alongside the Venezuelan people for over 12 years,Pastor Bruce Dick Pastor Bruce Dick said.
article_snippet: We have been praying along with hundreds or thousands of others for the Venezuelan people release and for those in Venezuela who also have been affected by this.
article_snippet: Journalist Phil Gunson reported from Caracas.
article_snippet: CNN's Juan Carlos Lopez, Florencia Trucco and Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report.