Venezuela September 6, 2019
Go to hell: Venezuelan coup leader Ricardo Hausmann stages WhatsApp
meltdown when confronted with his own hypocrisy and lack of transparency
Over the course of an entire day, Venezuelan coup leader Ricardo Hausmann
melted down on WhatsApp after I confronted him about his hypocritical
financial dealings and opacity. Hausmann has accepted speaking fees from
repressive governments like Saudi Arabia while slamming banks that did
business in Venezuela.
By Anya Parampil
At 3:31 AM on September 1, Venezuelan coup official Ricardo Hausmann fired
off a message on WhatsApp demanding to see one article in which I
questioned or criticized any of Maduros crimes and errors.
The text was part of a prolonged diatribe in which the Harvard professor of
economics lobbed multiple ad-hominem attacks and a demand I go to hell.
Hausmanns meltdown, which can be seen below, was prompted by questions I
sent the economist concerning his and his coup colleagues lack of
transparency.
On August 31, I exposed Hausmanns hypocritical financial past, revealing he
accepted speaking fees from repressive governments like Israel and Saudi
Arabia, while criticizing banks for doing business with Venezuelas elected
government. I also raised questions about Hausmanns private consulting
firm, questioning why the economist failed to disclose his clients now that
he claims to represent Guaidós administration at the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB).
I sought comment from Hausmann while writing that article, asking him
questions including whether or not it was appropriate for him and Guaidós
attorney general, José Ignacio Hernández, to continue working at Harvard
despite their service in Venezuelas US-recognized government.
I cant think of one example of someone who worked an academic job [at
Harvard] while serving in government. How do you have time for all of your
duties? I asked the professor.
I exercise no government functions, Haussman replied. I do not run an
organization, I am not paid by the Venezuelan government and I do not manage
a public budget.
This answer surprised me. Hausmanns appointment to serve at the IDB and his
role in designing Guaidós $160 billion debt restructuring plan surely
constitute government functions, and in fact, required the ouster of an
IDB official who had been appointed by the elected government of President
Nicolas Maduro.
Are you telling me Guaidos administration does not constitute a legitimate
government? I am sure the Venezuelan people will be surprised to hear that,
I said to Hausmann, highlighting his role in Guaidós so-called
administration.
Realizing his error, Hausmann conceded, I am an advisor of Juan Guaidó,
which I do on a pro bono basis. I have been named governor of the IDB and a
member of the restructuring commission. Neither involves any compensation.
So you do exercise government function? I replied in order to confirm
Hausmanns self-contradiction. I noted the fact Alejandro Grisanti, the
Guaidó-appointed chair of PdVSAs board, and Gustavo Tarre, Guaidós
ambassador to the Organization of American States, were required to quit
their previous jobs before joining Venezuelas shadow regime, even if they
arent getting paid either.
This isnt an issue of compensation, I added, stressing the issue of his
dual employment.
It was at this point that Hausmanns defense devolved from logic, which
seemed to be in low supply, to ad-hominem.
You are not a journalist nor are you interested in the truth, charged
Hausmann. You are an advocate of a cause and you produce biased and untrue
stuff that advances your political agenda.
Ok, you are entitled to your opinion, I responded, inviting Hausmann to
correct any of my inaccuracies. Have I said anything false?
I am not required to quit my job, according to Venezuelan law, US law or
Harvard norms, asserted the professor.
Ok, I accepted. But shouldnt you disclose your private consulting
clients if you are a government advisor?
Rather than answer my question, Hausmann changed the subject: You tried to
disqualify my daughter just because she is my daughter as if she was not an
[independent] woman.
Hausmanns complaint was a reference to my reporting about his daughters
failure to disclose her relationship with him, a coup official, while
promoting regime-change in Venezuela in a video op-ed for the New York
Times.
Was anything I said false? I demanded to know. Did she learn failure to
disclose from you?
Once again, Hausmann could only offer a deflection.
Please [disclose] how much money you have received from Maduro. What have
been your [dealings] with that dictatorship? he wrote.
While I worked as a correspondent and anchor for RT America until December
of 2018, I have never accepted payment from the Venezuelan government or any
other state unlike Hausmann. Whats more, The Grayzone is not funded by
any government.
Hausmann responded to this point by urging me to go to hell. But that was
not the end of our conversation, which lasted into the early hours of the
morning.
The exchange also concerned my September 3 investigation into allegations of
criminal negligence by opposition figures against Hausmann and Guaidós
US-based officials over their management of the countrys assets.
In that report, I documented how Guaidós attorney general, José Ignacio
Hernández, failed to disclose his previous testimony on behalf of multiple
companies suing the Venezuelan state during his confirmation process earlier
this year. He then appeared to take several actions which helped those cases
against the state after assuming his role as Guaidós top overseas legal
representative.
Hernándezs actions, which Hausmann has defended, could lead to the
liquidation of Citgo, Venezuelas most valuable international asset.
In refusing to disclose who his private consulting clients were, Ricard
Hausmann descended deeper into the realm of absurdity, demanding to know who
my father was.
Hausmann declined to answer my question about Citgo and ultimately resorted
to blocking me on WhatsApp. And that was how a meltdown that saw a top
Venezuelan coup official and jet-setting neoliberal economist bark insults
at a reporter until the early hours of the morning finally ended.
