Venezuelan officials reached out to the US behind President Nicolas Maduro's back solely to discuss his exit from power and free elections, National Security Advisor John Bolton said Wednesday.
Bolton's comment came after Maduro said he had authorised the contacts with high level US officials, casting them as a long-standing initiative that he was aware of and approved.
Countering in a tweet, Bolton said, "The only items discussed by those who are reaching out behind Maduro's back are his departure and free and fair elections."
He noted that US President Donald Trump "has repeatedly stated, to end the pilfering of the Venezuelan people's resources and continued repression, Maduro must go."
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