US releases Alex Saab in exchange for Americans jailed in Venezuela

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

44% : Saab's release would be seen as a major concession to Maduro, an authoritarian leader who is himself the target of a $15 million U.S. reward for anyone bringing him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
43% : In October, the White House eased sanctions on Venezuela´s oil industry, promising to reimpose the restrictions if Maduro by Nov. 30 didn´t live up to his promise to pave the way for free and fair elections next year.
39% : Saab was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly running a scheme that included Maduro´s inner circle and stole hundreds of millions in dollars from food-import contracts at a time of widespread hunger mainly due to shortages in the South American country.
37% : Maduro´s government has insisted Saab was traveling to Iran to buy food and medical supplies when he was detained in Cape Verde.
37% : At one point, it even deployed a Navy warship to the coast of West Africa to warn the Venezuelans.Maduro´s government has argued that Saab is a Venezuelan diplomat, entitled to immunity from criminal prosecution under international law.
36% : Saab, 51, was pulled off a private jet during a fuel stop in Cape Verde en route to Iran, where he was sent to negotiate oil deals on behalf of Maduro´s government.
34% : The most notable prisoner exchange came last December when the U.S. government, over the objections of some Republicans in Congress and criticism from some law enforcement officials, traded Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for WNBA star Brittney Griner.
29% : The charges: conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to a bribery scheme that allegedly siphoned off $350 million through state contracts to build affordable housing for Venezuela´s government.

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