Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on Arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
WASHINGTON – Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
"Nicolás Maduro represented a clear threat to U.S. security interests due to years of empowering narco trafficking groups, inviting China and Russia to gain footholds in the Western Hemisphere, and supporting terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. It is good that he is facing trial for federal criminal charges that date back to 2020 (on this point, I find it important to note that the Biden Administration DOJ kept those charges in place for the duration of their term and even increased the bounty on information that would lead to Maduro’s arrest from $15 million to $25 million).
"I am hopeful that the Trump Administration has plans to help ensure a peaceful transition that empowers the Venezuelan people. However, if the United States is pursuing sustained military or law enforcement presence in the region, the Trump Administration needs to ask Congress for an Authorized Use of Military Force. This is something the Administration declined to do during its strike campaign this fall on suspected drug trafficking boats. A campaign of such consequence—with the balance of power in our hemisphere at stake—requires congressional oversight.
"More broadly, while the Maduro regime has egregiously facilitated the flow of drugs into our country, I hope this can be a moment where we acknowledge the limitations of the U.S. military in solving a serious and devastating problem at home. Curbing the domestic demand for drugs obviously requires a whole of society effort, and we can’t rely only on military strength."