HOUSTON, April 26 (Reuters) - Lawyers representing

Venezuela on Friday re-submitted a request to a federal court to

disqualify an officer overseeing an auction of shares in the

parent of Houston-based refiner Citgo Petroleum, according to a

filing with the U.S. district court, Delaware.

The request was made "based on his improper advocacy to the

United States government" in a January 12, 2023 meeting with

members of the U.S. departments of Justice, State and Treasury.

The Delaware court in March last year denied the motion to

disqualify Robert Pincus on the ground that there was no

evidence. But lawyers representing Venezuela said they have

obtained direct evidence of such advocacy.

The auction of shares, set to have a second bidding round in

June, could see a change of ownership of the seventh largest

U.S. refiner later this year.