Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has made a bold move by calling for President Trump to pardon a U.S. Army soldier who has been accused of making over $400,000 by betting on the capture of ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This soldier, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and was involved in the planning of the failed coup attempt in Venezuela in 2019.
In a statement released on Thursday, Rep. Luna expressed her support for Van Dyke and urged President Trump to grant him a pardon. She stated, “Gannon Ken Van Dyke is a dedicated soldier who has served our country with honor and bravery. It is unjust to see him facing charges for his involvement in the failed coup attempt in Venezuela. I strongly urge President Trump to pardon him and give him the chance to continue serving our country.”
Van Dyke, along with a group of Venezuelan exiles and two former U.S. Special Forces soldiers, was arrested in May 2020 for his role in the failed coup attempt. The group had allegedly planned to capture Maduro and bring him to the United States in exchange for a $15 million bounty offered by the U.S. government. However, the operation was unsuccessful and resulted in the arrest of the group.
Since then, Van Dyke has been facing charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism and providing material support to terrorists. He has been held in custody at the Federal Correctional Institution in Miami, Florida, awaiting trial. However, Rep. Luna believes that Van Dyke’s actions were in line with his duty as a soldier and should not be punished.
Rep. Luna’s call for a pardon has received support from other Republican lawmakers as well. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) have also spoken out in favor of Van Dyke, stating that he was simply following orders and should not be held accountable for the failed operation.
The call for a pardon has also gained traction among conservative media outlets, with many arguing that Van Dyke was simply doing his job as a soldier and should not be punished for it. They have also pointed out that the U.S. government has a history of supporting coups and regime changes in other countries, and Van Dyke’s actions were no different.
In her statement, Rep. Luna also highlighted the fact that Van Dyke’s family has been struggling financially since his arrest. She stated, “Van Dyke’s family has been struggling to make ends meet since his arrest. He has a wife and two young children who are in dire need of his support. It is heartbreaking to see a dedicated soldier like Van Dyke facing such harsh consequences for simply following orders.”
The call for a pardon has also sparked a debate on the role of the U.S. military in foreign affairs. Many have argued that the U.S. should not be involved in regime change operations in other countries, while others have defended the actions of Van Dyke and his fellow soldiers, stating that they were simply following orders from their superiors.
In the midst of this debate, one thing is clear – Van Dyke’s actions were motivated by his love for his country and his duty as a soldier. He believed that he was serving his country by participating in the failed coup attempt, and it is unfair to see him facing such severe consequences for it.
Rep. Luna’s call for a pardon is a reminder that our soldiers put their lives on the line every day to protect our country and its interests. They deserve our support and gratitude, not punishment for carrying out their duties. It is now up to President Trump to make the right decision and grant Van Dyke a pardon, allowing him to return to his family and continue serving our country.
