ADVANCING THE REVLUTION: BRINGING THE ATTORNEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000620 SIPDIS NSC FOR CBARTON USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLD USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER FBI CT DIVISION/OO FOR NGAMBA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS VE SUBJECT: ADVANCING THE REVLUTION: BRINGING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE T HEEL CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B ) AND (D) ¶1. (C ON FEBRUARY 18, CARMEN ALGUINDIGUE, DIRECTOR OF PROCEDURAL ACTION AND ONE OF THREE KEY CAREER EMPLOEES IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WAS FIRED. ACCORDING TO LEGATT, AT LEAST TWO MORE TOP EMPLYEES IN THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE FIRED AS PART O A STRATEGY TO FORCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFIE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF PRESIDENT CHAVEZ. ¶2. (C) IN MID-FEBRUARY, SOURCES TOLD LEGATT THAT TTORNEY GENERAL ISAIAS RODRIGUEZ ANNOUNCED A SHIT IN POLICY TO MANIPULATE CASE INVESTIGATIONS TOFAVOR GOV INTERESTS. ANY CASES BROUGHT AGAINST HE CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT WOULD BE HANDLED IN SUCH A MNNER THAT THE OUTCOMES WOULD NOT EMBARRASS OR DAAGE THE GOV. SEVERAL SENIOR OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ALGUINDIGUE, OBJECTED TO WHAT THEY VIEWED AS A POICY OF POLITICAL FAVORITISM AND WERE CONSEQUENTL INFORMED THEY WOULD BE REPLACED BY CHAVEZ SUPPORERS BY MARCH 1. AMONG THOSE WHO EXPECT TO BE FIED ARE RAMON MEDINA, DIRECTOR OF CRIMINAL PROSECTIONS, AND MAGALY MALPICA, CHIEF OF THE DIRECTORTE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS. MEDINA OVERSEES 70 PECENT OF THE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC PROSECUTORS. MALPICA S IN CHARGE OF INVESTIGATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACUSED OF ABUSE OF AUTHORITY AND/OR VIOLATING THE IGHTS OF OTHERS. MEDINA AND ALGUINDIGUE WERE KE CONTACTS FOR LEGATT AND NAS. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) BY REMOVING THESE OFFICIALS, TH CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT IS DISMANTLING THE LAST BULWAK OF INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY IN THE ATTORNEY GENRAL'S OFFICE. ALTHOUGH LEGATT EXPECTS CONTINUIN COOPERATION FROM VENEZUELAN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON TRICTLY CRIMINAL MATTERS, COOPERATION IN POLITICALL SENSITIVE CASES WILL LIKELY BE MINIMAL AT BEST. IN ADDITION, LEGATT IS PESSIMISTIC REGARDING TH EMBASSY'S FUTURE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE INSTITUTINAL REFORM IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, ESPCIALLY THROUGH US-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS. SHAPIR NNNN 2004CARACA00620 - CONFIDENTIAL