(Editor & Publisher) - "Sean Penn, appearing with David Letterman on CBS, defended his recent visit with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, and said there is indeed freedom of expression for the media in that country.

'I found him a very fascinating guy,' Penn said, referring to Chávez. 'He's done incredible things for the 80% of the people who are poor there.'

Asked why he visited, Penn quipped, 'I felt almost invited to go by Pat Robertson, because he was encouraging that Chávez be assassinated, and I always can assume that whatever he says it ought to be the opposite.'

When Letterman said that from he'd read, Chávez must be 'nuts' or at least 'wacky.' Penn replied: 'I think if people have oil in the ground they are called wacky.

He also defended media freedom in that country. 'One of things said about him is that he shut down a television station,' Penn said. 'Since 1998 they had been encouraging the assassination of Chávez every day.

So he just did not re-up their license.'''

Penn disputed 'the idea that there is no freedom of expression there,' explaining, 'the loons of Fox News are broadcast there every day.' He was on the show promoting his new film, Into the Wild"