The Trump administration should sanction and, if necessary, introduce criminal charges against U.S. citizens who attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

I say that in light of Bloomberg’s reporting on Tuesday of U.S. business officials meeting with representatives of Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas. These officials are apparently negotiating with Maduro to gain access to Venezuelan oil reserves in return for restructuring Maduro’s debts. Bloomberg also reports that Erik Prince, the former security boss and present private financier, recently pitched his own business proposal to Maduro’s vice president Delcy Rodriguez.