WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement on the unprecedented attack and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro:

“Let me be very clear: Nicolas Maduro is and was a bad guy. No question. He was a dictator, the leader of a drug cartel, and an illegitimate leader who ignored the results of the most recent Venezuelan election and deserved to be brought to justice. However, doing the right thing can only be truly effective if you do it the right way.

“When we look at today’s military operation, I also want to emphasize that our military is exceptional, and the skill and preparation that it showed was absolutely extraordinary. Having said that, I'm very concerned about where this leads. Does this set a precedent that gives the President the sole authority to commit our nation to what can only be defined as war? Further, when the United States takes an action like this and baldly asserts the right to “run the country,” it invites similar acts of aggression by unfriendly regimes like China, North Korea, or Russia and robs us of the protections of the rules and norms of responsible international behavior.

“The Constitution lays out very clearly that Congress has the power to declare war. I know Congress has abdicated many of its powers in recent years, but I hope and plan on trying to return those fundamental duties back to the legislative branch as the founders designed.

“The next few weeks will prove critical in answering these questions and assessing what could likely be a lasting shift in Latin American and global geopolitics. I intend to remain engaged with these critical questions through the conduct of the needed oversight in my roles on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees.”

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