The United States denied that a US filmmaker arrested in Venezuela was a spy tasked with sowing civil unrest throughout the country, as claimed by Caracas.
The alleged agent, Timothy Tracy, was detained Wednesday at an airport near Caracas as he tried to leave the country, according to Venezuelan officials, who also released pictures of the American.
“We are aware of the arrest of a US citizen in Caracas… Because of privacy considerations, we’re unable to comment on the specific case further at this time,” said State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell.
Ventrell stressed that the allegations “have not been substantiated.”
“The US continues to categorically reject any allegations of US government efforts to destabilize the Venezuelan government or to harm anyone in Venezuela,” he said.
According to media reports, Tracy is a 35-year-old filmmaker based in Hollywood who has been working on a documentary since last year.
The US congressman who represents the district where he lives, Adam Schiff, voiced anger at the arrest.