The assault came amid an intensifying political fight over Mr. Maduro’s effort to convene a constituent assembly that could render the elected National Assembly powerless. The video showed Mr. Pérez, looking gaunt, sitting against a white wall with a Venezuelan flag in the background and a short-barreled rifle by his side. The effort is widely seen as a ploy by a deeply unpopular leader to consolidate power by disbanding the National Assembly, which is controlled by his opponents. Ms. Ortega has denounced the plan as an affront to the country’s democratic principles. The court and the National Assembly made dueling nominations for deputy attorney general on Tuesday, making it unclear who would replace Ms. Ortega if she were removed.

Source: New York Times July 05, 2017 20:25 UTC