hugo carvajal realsed list of senators
Executive summary
The widely circulated claim that former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal "released" a list naming U.S. senators who received kickbacks from the Maduro regime is unsupported by available reporting: fact-checkers and major news outlets found no evidence that Carvajal produced any document that names U.S. senators [1]. Social posts and fringe videos circulating a roster of senators appear to be unverified amplification of a Dec. 2 letter and partisan commentary rather than a verifiable "Venezuela list" authored by Carvajal [2] [3] [1].
1. What Carvajal actually released — and what the reporting shows
Reporting indicates Carvajal or his representatives circulated a Dec. 2 letter alleging that U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers were paid to support Chávez and Maduro, but that letter — as reviewed by Snopes and other outlets — did not include a list naming specific U.S. senators or federal lawmakers [1]. The Miami Herald likewise reported that Carvajal has released material and written allegations about foreign intelligence activity and corruption, but its coverage does not corroborate a list of U.S. senators receiving kickbacks [4].
2. The viral roster and its provenance
A viral Threads post and mirrored videos on platforms such as BitChute present a long roster of U.S. senators purportedly “on the Venezuela list,” but those posts provide no primary-source document emending the claim and are presented without corroborating evidence [2] [3]. Snopes specifically examined the circulating claims and found no evidence that Carvajal had released a list implicating U.S. senators or other federal lawmakers [1].
3. Who’s promoting the claim and possible motives
At least part of the claim’s spread traces to an attorney for Carvajal, Robert Feitel, who is reported to have shared the Dec. 2 letter with conservative outlets including the Dallas Express; that media pathway helps explain why the allegations migrated rapidly into partisan channels [1]. The form and placement of the roster online — on social platforms and fringe video sites — fit a pattern in which incendiary accusations are amplified without documentary proof, a dynamic that benefits actors seeking to tarnish political opponents or drive engagement [2] [3].
4. Context on Carvajal’s credibility and ongoing legal matters
Carvajal is a former Maduro-era intelligence chief with a long record of high-level access; he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2008 and later arrested in Spain after years in hiding, and has faced drug-trafficking charges in U.S. courts — facts that make his allegations newsworthy but also require careful vetting of specifics [5] [4] [6]. Independent corroboration of claims about U.S. officials would normally require documentary evidence, legal filings, or confirmation from investigating authorities; none of the available reporting shows such corroboration for a senator-naming list [1].
5. What remains uncertain and how to read the claim
Available sources demonstrate the existence of allegations by Carvajal and the circulation of a purported roster online, but they do not substantiate that Carvajal officially released a list naming U.S. senators receiving kickbacks; Snopes explicitly reported no evidence of such a list [1]. Given the partisan channels of dissemination and Carvajal’s complex legal and political history, the claim should be treated as unproven until primary documents or credible investigative authorities validate the names and transactions alleged [1] [4].