Pompeo echoes Bolton: US had no connection to Maduro assassination attempt originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Two top Trump administration officials have now denied U.S. involvement in the apparent assassination attempt of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday night.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed the comments made by National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier in the day as he returned from an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference Sunday night.

"Ambassador Bolton said this morning there wasn’t an American connection," Pompeo told reporters on the flight as he prepared to return to Washington, D.C. "We don’t really have a lot of detail about what took place beyond what you’ve seen and what the -- I think the White House has put out so far."

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, security personnel surround Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during an incident as he was giving a speech in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. (AP) More

(MORE: Explosive drones detonate in 'assassination attempt' on Venezuelan president)

Bolton told Fox News' Chris Wallace on his Sunday morning show, "Well, I can say unequivocally there is no U.S. government involvement in this at all. Just within the past couple of hours, I have spoken with our charge in Caracas, the head diplomatic official down there. He and his staff were up much of the night making sure that Americans in Venezuela were safe."

Maduro was speaking at a celebration of the 81st anniversary of the National Guard, when detonations from "various drones" near the presidential area and along the parade route occurred, Jorge Rodriguez, the Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information, said on Venezuelan state television.

(MORE: Everything you need to know about the crisis in Venezuela)

The president, who has ruled the country since 2013, called it an assassination attempt in a speech on state TV following the attack. Maduro blamed it on the far-right opposition in his country as well as neighboring Colombia. He said several conspirators were arrested in Venezuela, and appealed to President Donald Trump for help with arresting others connected to the attack in Miami.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, an ally of Maduro, took the accusations one step further and blamed the U.S., Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence -- calling it "Yankee Interventionism" -- in a series of tweets Sunday afternoon.

On 07/20/17, then chief of the CIA, Mike Pompeo admitted efforts with Mexico and Colombia to foster a "transition" in Venezuela. Then, on 8/10/17, in the White House, Trump pressed his aides to invade Venezuela. The world is well aware of the plans of the US against Venezuela. — Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) August 5, 2018

On 08/11/2017, Trump warned of a "military option" against Venezuela. That very same day Trump rejected a call from our brother president Nicolás Maduro. On 09/18/17 Trump insisted on his military option against Maduro on talks with 4 Latin American leaders. It's on the record. — Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) August 5, 2018

On 01/23/18, ex CIA head and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo admitted the CIA gave Trump data on the Venezuelan financial situation and the relationship of our brother president Nicolas Maduro with the army before the US sanctions against Venezuela. Yankee Interventionism. — Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) August 5, 2018

Pompeo did not address the specific accusations on Sunday, nor was it clear he even knew about them.

Venezuela has dealt with widespread economic issues, including inflation, poverty, rising crime and hunger, in recent years. The annual percent change in inflation in Venezuela was 13,860 percent as of April, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF ceased assistance in helping the country pull itself out of economic collapse in May, saying, "The Board found that Venezuela has not implemented the remedial measures and has failed to provide information on a number of additional items as required." It said it would take up the issue again in six months.

In this photo provided by the Miraflores Presidential Palace, President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a event marking the 81st anniversary of the National Guard, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, August 4, 2019. Venezuela's government says several expl (The Associated Press) More

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