Washington, February 15 (RHC)-- In Washington, DC, U.S. Judge Beryl Howell declared a mistrial against the Embassy of Venezuela Protectors Collective, after the jury could not reach a verdict.

The judge even gave the jury extra time to deliberate.  However, they could not reach a unanimous decision.  Howell asked for a new trial, but there is still no certainty that it will happen.

The four activists -- Adrienne Pine, David Paul, Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers -- were arrested in May 2019, after being accused of "interfering with the functions of the U.S. Department of State" for staying at the Venezuelan embassy in Washington.  They were trying to prevent the administration of Donald Trump from giving the headquarters to the envoys of the Venezuelan self-proclaimed 'president', Juan Guaido.

During the trial, judge Howell refused to allow the defense to present its evidence, and even claimed that she considered it was U.S. President Donald Trump's decision who the president of Venezuela was.

The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolas Maduro, repeatedly declared that the activists were their guests and they were legally allowed to be there, so their detention represented a transgression of international laws that protect the inviolability of diplomatic facilities.

Jurors were not convinced by government prosecutors who were every bit as incompetent as Guaido’s henchmen.  Judge Howell, biased as she has been towards the U.S. government, called for a retrial but it may not happen.

During their stay at the embassy, the activists suffered verbal and physical aggressions, power cuts and water, as well as restrictions on access to food and medicine.