Ouster Of Venezuelan Dictator “Long Overdue,” Bucks Co. Congressman Says

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) issued a statement on Saturday in response to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro during a joint military and law enforcement operation by the Trump Administration.

Early Saturday morning, President Trump sent U.S. forces into the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to capture Maduro and to bring him to justice in the United States on charges of narcoterrorism. During a press conference, the President said in the wake of Saturday’s raid, the U.S. will be "running" Venezuela on a temporary basis.

In response to the military operation, Fitzpatrick issued what he called “three statements of fact” regarding U.S. foreign policy as it pertains to Venezuela.

“Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate narco-terror dictator,” he said. “He terrorized his people, dismantled democratic institutions, and turned the machinery of government into a state-backed criminal enterprise — exporting drugs and cartel violence into the United States, with devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of American lives. His ouster and prosecution are long overdue. We are thankful for the incredible bravery of the men and women of the U.S. military and our national security professionals.”

With that said, Fitzpatrick said the only country that the United States of America should be ‘running’ is the United States of America.

“The United States should join the international community in monitoring and overseeing a free and fair election in Venezuela, allowing the Venezuelan people a pathway to a true democracy.”

Fitzpatrick continued, “We must all place paramount importance on lawful process and constitutional responsibility. The Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF) resolutions have been interpreted by multiple presidents, under multiple scenarios, to cover groups and situations not initially envisioned, leading to debates about the balance of power between the Article I and Article II branches of government.

“As the chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, we will continue our coordination and collaboration with CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Important information will be shared in forthcoming briefings, and we will continue our active role of proper congressional oversight.

“What is already clear, however, is this: terrorists, tyrants, dictators, and drug lords must always be met by justice and the rule of law; the extraordinary men and women of our military and intelligence community are the finest in the world; and the future of a free and democratic Venezuela belongs to the Venezuelan people alone.”