New Mexico Democrats condemn Venezuela military action as unconstitutional while GOP praises Trump
New Mexico Democrats in Congress criticized U.S. military action in Venezuela while the Republican Party of New Mexico praised President Trump’s role in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Sen. Martin Heinrich say the capture of Nicolás Maduro lacked congressional authorization as the Republican Party of New Mexico hails the operation as historic
Organ Mountain News report
WASHINGTON - New Mexico Democrats and Republicans issued sharply different responses Friday after the Trump administration confirmed U.S. military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., said the operation violated the will of voters and lacked authorization from Congress.
“Millions of Americans voted in the last Presidential election to end frivolous conflicts and unnecessary foreign wars,” Vasquez said in a statement released Jan. 3. “This escalation of hostilities against Venezuela and the capture of a foreign leader without Congressional authorization goes against the will of the Americans who put the president in power.”
Vasquez said New Mexicans oppose U.S. involvement in another prolonged overseas conflict and criticized the administration for a lack of transparency.
“There has been no transparency, and no assurance that taxpayer dollars and military resources used in this hostile action will make Americans safer,” he said. “What New Mexicans want are real economic solutions that improve their daily lives.”
Vasquez called on President Trump to end the military action and communicate directly with the public, saying Congress did not authorize war or regime change in Venezuela.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a separate statement condemning the operation and warning of legal and security risks.
“Let’s be clear, President Trump has acted without any legal authorization from Congress,” Heinrich said. “His ‘capture’ of Maduro — no matter how terrible a leader Maduro is — breaks our nation’s laws, tarnishes our global leadership, puts Americans in Venezuela and our Armed Forces at risk, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”
Heinrich said Americans want lower costs, transparency and justice, not “endless armed conflicts and regime change wars,” and urged Congress to condemn the president’s actions.
In contrast, the Republican Party of New Mexico praised the operation, calling it a major victory for U.S. security and Venezuelans opposed to Maduro’s government.
RPNM Chairwoman Amy Barela said the capture of Maduro demonstrated U.S. military strength and was being celebrated by Venezuelans inside the country and abroad.
“No other military in the world could have successfully pulled this mission off. Not one,” Barela said in a statement. She described Maduro as an “illegitimate president” and accused him of leading a criminal organization responsible for narcotics trafficking and violence.
Barela criticized Democratic lawmakers, including Vasquez and Rep. Melanie Stansbury, for opposing the operation, calling their objections “grossly offensive” to Venezuelans who have suffered under Maduro’s rule.
“History books will remember this day as a day of peace and prosperity for Venezuela and all Venezuelans in the Western Hemisphere,” Barela said.
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