President Maduro, who is widely considered to be an authoritarian dictator, pleaded not guilty to narco-terorrism charges on Monday. Prosecutors allege that the Maduros and accomplices engaged in a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy and partnered with cartels designated as terrorist groups.
President Trump said after the operation to capture Maduro that the US will “run” Venezuela and tap into its crude oil reserves.
In a statement released Saturday, Senator Bennet condemned Maduro as a corrupt election-stealer, but also said he sees no justification “for putting U.S. troops on the ground to ‘run the country’ or rebuild and exploit Venezuela’s oil infrastructure”.
Trump did not attain approval from Congress or the United Nations Security Council prior to the mission, arguably violating international law. The UN would consider the drug-trafficking offenses the US is pursuing to be a matter for law enforcement, not a justification for military action.
Congressman Gabe Evans had a different take. His statement praised the decision to capture Maduro, and thanked prosecutors and law enforcement for arresting the president whom he called a narco terrorist. He also lauded law enforcement's efforts to arrest Tren de Aragua gang members in Denver, strengthening international security, while criticizing the Biden administration for “weak policies” on the border. Congressman Evans also noted that the Maduros and 14 of their senior officials were indicted in New York in 2020 for charges including weapons offenses and conspiracy to import cocaine.
