US soldier accused of betting on Maduro removal stirs Venezuela row
A US Army sergeant based in Florida is alleged to have placed 30,000 dollars in online prediction-market bets on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro leaving office. The Pentagon has opened an internal inquiry. Caracas called the report 'a confession of interference.'
Former colleagues told the BBC the sergeant placed the bets based on public sentiment rather than 'classified information.' The wagers were placed on US-based Kalshi and overseas Polymarket platforms, accompanied by registration documents and digital wallet addresses.
A US Defense Department spokesperson said military ethics rules do not categorically ban service members from betting on foreign political events, but said a wide-ranging review had been opened in case classified information had been involved. The Department of Justice is reportedly running a parallel inquiry.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil called the case 'evidence of an appetite for a coup.' The bolívar held steady at the official rate but slid four percent on the parallel market. Caracas-issued PdVSA bonds fell about 100 basis points. The White House has not yet commented on the case.
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