Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Sunday he is seeking to require President Donald Trump to get Congress’s approval for future military action against Venezuela, saying people are “in fear” over the Trump administration’s actions over the weekend.
The U.S. military captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro early Saturday morning, with Maduro now being held in custody in New York City. Schumer contended that while Maduro is a “horrible person,” the solution to “lawlessness” isn’t “other lawlessness,” arguing this is what Trump has undertaken.
TOM ROGAN: CAPTURING MADURO WAS THE EXTRAORDINARILY CHALLENGING BUT EASIER PART
Going forward, Schumer said he is going to vote on the War Powers Act this week.
“That’s a privilege resolution, which means the Republicans can’t block it. [Sen.] Tim Kaine (D-VA) and I and [Sen.] Rand Paul (R-KY) are sponsors of it. It’s going to come to the floor this week, and if it is voted for, if it’s voted positively in both Houses, then the president can’t do another thing in Venezuela without the OK of Congress. We have to pass it,” Schumer said on ABC News’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos.
Schumer also said the Trump administration’s “escapade” into Venezuela doesn’t help Americans. In comparison, the Democratic Party is focused on lowering the cost of living, saying this will be the “No. 1 focus” for the party going into the midterm elections.
VENEZUELANS POUR INTO STREETS TO CELEBRATE MADURO’S FALL
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday it is “premature” to host new elections in Venezuela, saying the country’s old “regime” was in place for 15 years. He added that the U.S. is focused on addressing the problems created by Maduro.
Trump said on Saturday the U.S. will run Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He also confirmed that he will bring in U.S. energy companies to take over Venezuela’s oil industry.