Dems demanding Venezuela brief face State Department fury as senators leave town without answers

The State Department is accusing four senior Senate Democrats of staging a political show over a Venezuela oil agreement. The lawmakers had asked for documents and a briefing on the Pentagon's role in a deal with North American Blue Energy Partner (NABEP), under which the Department of War receives a 35% stake in one of Venezuela's largest oil producers. The briefing, set for Oct. 1, 2026, was pushed back as the Senate headed out for its fall break, according to Fox News.

State maintains the senators had been aware for weeks that officials intended to meet with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and hand over the paperwork that day. Fox News Digital reviewed material showing the department delivered copies of the strategic partnership agreement to the committee anyway, describing it as a courtesy. A senior State Department official said each member had a folder waiting in the committee's front office.

Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said the Democrats scrapped the session to leave town for vacation, calling the episode "pure grandstanding."

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →