Congresswoman April McClain Delaney Statement on the Trump Administration's Unlawful Actions in Venezuela

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney released a statement about the Trump Administration's unlawful actions in Venezuela:

"Trump is not above the law at home or in his exercise of military force. The immediate question from this strike is: "Was it legal?" It's only legal if Congress authorizes it or if the President is responding to an imminent threat to the United States. Nothing the President has said has convinced me that the actions undertaken last night reach that standard and certainly the seizure of the Venezuelan government by our government, and the U.S. plans for regime change Trump promises, is illegal as well. As a Member of Congress, I'm sworn to uphold the Constitution and fight unlawful behavior, which is why I will fight Trump's unlawfulness anywhere I see it.

"The secondary questions are: Was this action in our best interest? What are the follow-on consequences? Why was it done, for whom was it done, and what other interests did it serve? I have grave concerns about each of these questions and will be demanding answers from the Administration and exercising Congressional oversight.

"The United States military can accomplish almost any mission—their extraordinary skill and capabilities have no rival. The precision of this exercise is first evidence of that point and Maduro was a criminal dictator. None of that is in question, but we live in a nation of laws. Not following these laws in the past has led to 'forever wars' that have cost American lives and treasure. These laws are the foundation of who we are and I, for one, intend on ensuring that they are upheld."