Rep. Omar: US to Blame for Devastation in Venezuela

Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., blamed the United States for the devastation in Venezuela, and says the "bullying and use of sanctions to eventually intervene and make regime change" will not help the people there.

Her comments come as Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó publicly called for the military to back him to force Maduro from power, sparking protests and violence. 

But Maduro remained in control Wednesday as Guaidó called for demonstrations.  

Appearing on "Democracy Now," a news program broadcast on PBS, Omar was asked to weigh in on the "U.S.-supported coup attempt" in the country – the United States has recognized Guaidó as Venezuela's leader.

"A lot of the policies that we have put in place has kind of helped lead the devastation in Venezuela and we have sort of set the stage for where we are arriving today," Omar said. "This particular bullying and the use of sanctions to eventually intervene and make regime change really does not help the people of countries like Venezuela and it certainly does not help and is not in the interest of the United States."

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