Venezuelan Pres. feels 'proud' to be sanctioned by US

According to telesurtv, Nicolas Maduro has defended himself against recent sanctions imposed on him by the United States.

The comments come after the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Monday that it will impose sanctions directly on President Maduro.

In a public address, Maduro declared, 'Impose whatever sanctions you like but I am the leader of the free people.'

Maduro lambasted the sanctions as an 'imperialist attack' against Venezuela's Assembly of National Constituent (ANC), and added, 'Why are they sanctioning me? Because I called democratic elections so that people can freely vote for the National Constituent Assembly,' he said. 'I feel proud to be sanctioned Mr. Imperialist Donald Trump.'

Maduro assured that pressure from the United States will not derail the ANC, adding 'Venezuela will not be silenced; nothing and nobody will stop the Assembly of National Constituent.'

According to electoral authorities, over 8 million people (41%) voted in Venezuela's Assembly of National Constituent election on Sunday.

Maduro argued the mass turnout was an indication that the people of Venezuela were committed to peace and see the ANC as a solution to the country's current political crisis.

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