Reaction to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. troops is, predictably, split down party lines. Republicans like Senator Bill Cassidy are hailing the operation.
“I join President Trump in congratulating our armed services, who was able to extract the illegitimate head of the Venezuelan government Maduro, and bring him to the United States for justice,” Cassidy said.
But Democrats, like Congressman Troy Carter, say the action was unconstitutional and will ultimately put Americans at risk.
“A question of taking down a bad actor is not the issue here. It’s the process,” Carter said.
Cassidy said President Trump decided that enough is enough, and that Maduro needed to be brought to the U.S. to face justice for his crimes.
“It’s well known that Venezuela has become a hub of money laundering, drug trafficking into the United States and elsewhere. It’s supported anti-democratic terrorist groups around the world,” Cassidy said.
Carter says there is no question that Maduro is a bad man and that the people of Venezuela have suffered under his regime. However, that does not change the fact that the U.S. had no right to act unilaterally.
“There is a rule engagement. There’s international law that has to be abided by. Otherwise, we unravel the relationships internationally,” Carter noted.