Energy Secretary says US controls Venezuela's oil sales, forced partnership, denies stealing any — same interview

“You hear "forced to work in partnership" and "we're not stealing anything" come out of the same mouth in the same hour and you don't need a law degree, you need a bar tab — that's the guy who says "I didn't take your money, I just control the register." Sixty-five billion barrels, majority control, and the man running the country just got kidnapped nine months ago and flown here in cuffs, but sure, call it a partnership, call it a gift, call it whatever gets it past the cameras before lunch. The price of that oil doesn't come out of Rubio's pocket or Wright's pocket, it comes out of pump four, same as always — they just moved the leverage overseas so you'd stop checking the math at home.”