Rubio says US not at war with Venezuela, as Maduro set to appear in New York court on Monday

by

You can’t notify Congress of an operation like this because “it will leak”, he added.

Speaking to US media outlets, Rubio was asked if the US recognises Rodríguez as the legitimate president of Venezuela.

He answered that “this is not about the legitimate president” as the US does not recognise the regime as legitimate.

AFP via Getty Images Fuerte Tiuna, one of Venezuela's largest military bases was hit AFP via Getty Images
Fuerte Tiuna, one of Venezuela’s largest military bases was hit in Caracas on Saturday

Some Democratic lawmakers have condemned the administration’s actions.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the secretive military operation, which was conducted without approval from Congress, “was not simply a narcotics operation”.

“It was an act of war,” Jeffries told NBC’s Meet the Press.

“This was a military action involving Delta Force, involving the army, apparently involving thousands of troops, involving at least 150 military aircraft, perhaps involving dozens of ships off the coast of Venezuela and South America.”

Jim Himes, the most senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, told CBS Face the Nation he had had “zero outreach” from the Trump administration, adding “no Democrat that I’m aware of has had any outreach”.

In an interview with ABC This Week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer questioned the legality of the US operation. Continue reading…

Leave a Comment