Video Interrogation of Captured US Mercenary Luke Denman Released
In a video interrogation broadcast in Venezuela on May 6, captured US military veteran Luke Denman, an alleged participant in a recent failed coup attempt, said he was instructed to secure the airport and get Nicolas Maduro on a plane back to the US.
Footage of the interrogation was broadcast during a press conference by President Maduro on state TV in the country.
In the video, Denman is asked a series of questions by a man off-camera, including many about Jordan Goudreau, the US veteran who leads the Florida-based private security firm Silvercorp USA, which, Goudreau said, was behind the attempted incursion.
When asked who commands Goudreau, Denman said it was “President Trump.” At one point, Denman also held up a sheet of paper and claimed it was a contract for his services that had been signed by both Goudreau and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Goudreau has also said his plan was coordinated with Guaido. However, Guaido’s team has denied this.
“The only instructions I received from Jordan were that I should make sure to take control of the airport for safe passage transfer of Maduro and receiving airplanes,” Denman said, adding that the intention was to “take Maduro back to the United States.”
Denman claimed that he and Airan Berry, the other American detained in Venezuela, met Goudreau in Germany in 2009 or 2010 while they were all in the military.
Denman said that he was first approached by Goudreau about the plan in early December 2019 but was given very few details, and said he expected to make anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000 for the job.
Denman said he and Berry flew into Colombia on January 16 with Goudreau and explained that their plan was to meet with Venezuelans and train them in Colombia in advance of an operation.
“There was three small groups. In total it was 60 to 20 people per group,” Denman said.
The person also asked Denman, “What would be your reaction if irregular forces entered into your country to assassinate the president?” Denman replied, “I wouldn’t like it.” Credit: Nicolas Maduro via Storyful
