PHOENIX -- Today, Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) released the following statement on Donald Trump's actions in Venezuela:
"Last night, Donald Trump carried out yet another illegal act of war in Venezuela, capturing the country’s illegitimate and brutal dictator, Nicolas Maduro. This is action that Congress did not authorize and the American people did not ask for. It is a profound abuse of power by an unrestrained U.S. president.
"Trump’s explanations for this action have incredibly changed from combatting drug trafficking, to forcing regime change, to now taking Venezuelan oil for the profit of multibillion dollar oil conglomerates. At a time of rising costs and severe crises of Trump’s own making at home, expending government resources, military capacity, and taxpayer dollars for foreign military intervention and to line the pockets of his friends and donors is utterly reckless and shameful.
"Any American military action in Venezuela requires Congressional authorization. While I am gratified that the Venezuelan people are now free from the horrific Maduro dictatorship, it now must be up to the people to set a course for a free and democratic Venezuela. The steps taken by the Trump administration last night are entirely outside the bounds of the law, and any further action to put tens of thousands of U.S. servicemembers in harm’s way and “run” a foreign country must be put before a vote in Congress as soon as possible. The American people do not want to repeat the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Congress needs to get to the bottom of what the administration’s next steps are: a transition plan in Venezuela? Seizing oil? Putting U.S. boots on the ground? Or further unconstitutional acts of war against other countries? The House must take immediate measures to hold this rogue president accountable, investigating last night’s events and passing a war powers resolution to prevent further military escalation."
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