Trump Says US Has Captured Venezuela’s President Maduro
Trump’s full post on Truth Social at 4:21 this morning:
The United States of America successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured and expelled from the country along with his wife. This operation was carried out in collaboration with American law enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a press conference today at 11 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Experts condemn the strikes as illegal under international law and question why Congress was not consulted.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) said on Maduro was indicted in 2020. There are no known indictments against his wife.
Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator who was captured by the United States during a 1989 invasion to stand trial in Miami, is often mentioned. A DOJ Office of Legal Counsel opinion from the time states that “the President, acting through the Attorney General, has the inherent constitutional authority to deploy the FBI to investigate and arrest individuals who have violated United States law, even if those actions contravene customary international law.”
Lee, who initially questioned how this attack was possible under U.S. law without congressional consent, did a quick 180-degree turn, seemingly immediately satisfied with Rubio’s insistence that the “large-scale strike” described by Trump was necessary to defend law enforcement. Other Republican members of Congress are also lining up this morning.
This post has been updated.
