US citizen detained in Venezuela speaks on state television

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We know this from the alleged Gideon operation in Venezuela 2:58

(CNN) - One of the two American veterans arrested earlier this week by Venezuelan security forces appeared on state television in the South American nation.

In a heavily edited video, Luke Denman is shown looking directly at the camera and describing his supposed role in what the Maduro government claims is a "failed coup" attempt organized by the US security firm Silvercorp.

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Silvercorp has not responded to requests for comment.

While it is not clear whether Denman was speaking under duress, the Venezuelan government described the edited clip as a "confession."

Denman was detained on Monday along with his American military veteran Aaron Berry. Both men are former soldiers of the US Special Forces.

In the video, Denman is interrogated by an off-camera man, who asks the ex-soldier what he was doing in Venezuela. There is no indication that Denman had legal representation present during the interrogation.

The Venezuelan government has released "confessions" of videos edited in the past, a practice that has been criticized by human rights groups.

Denman and Berry will be tried in civil court for their part in the alleged operation, the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, said on Wednesday.

The questioned president accused Silvercorp CEO Jordan Goudreau of planning the incident.

In response to a question from CNN during a virtual press conference in Caracas on Wednesday, Maduro said that the two men would receive a fair trial and that the Venezuelan Attorney General was now in charge of the detainees.

It is not clear where they are being held. Both Maduro and the Prosecutor's Office in Caracas have not yet provided information on the whereabouts of the men.

Denman's mother, Kay, previously told CNN that she is concerned about her son.

"We are trying to get information and looking for what we need to do on our side," he told CNN. "No one has contacted me or my husband."

The Venezuelan leader said that his Foreign Ministry would denounce the alleged invasion at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and request the extradition of Goudreau from the United States.

Images posted to Maduro's official Twitter account on Monday claim to show the alleged incident. In the video, several unidentifiable men can be seen in a boat with their hands in the air and a helicopter overhead.

The US Department of State He had previously said that Maduro's version was part of a major disinformation campaign.

During Wednesday's press conference, Maduro repeated the accusations against the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the President of Colombia, Ivan Duque, and the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Juan Guaidó, of being complicit in the alleged coup. Everyone has denied any involvement.

Operation Gideon