Experts: ‘Fat Leonard’ may be Venezuela’s bargaining chip

By JULIE WATSON and JOSHUA GOODMAN
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A fugitive defense contractor nicknamed “Fat Leonard” who claims to have incriminating sex photos of top U.S. Navy brass could become the latest bargaining chip in Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to win official recognition from the Biden administration. But it’s unclear how hard the U.S. government will fight for the return of Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian owner of a ship servicing company in Southeast Asia who is the central character in one of the largest bribery scandals in Pentagon history. While Venezuela and the United States have an extradition treaty, the Biden administration does not formally recognize Maduro’s government.