The United States is preparing new sanctions against Venezuelan government officials in response to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's controversial re-election in July. The Treasury Department is about to announce 15 individual sanctions against Maduro's subordinates, saying that these officials "impeded the holding of free and fair presidential elections." The United States said the measures target key leaders who worked with Maduro to undermine the July 28 vote, including electoral authorities, Venezuela's Supreme Court, the National Assembly, and members of the National Intelligence Agency and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence. The plan, which could be announced as early as this week, could change before it is finalized. (Jin Shi)