“Our country has carried out one of the boldest law enforcement operations in decades. We should celebrate it. This administration had the courage to do what was right and what needed to be done. America, Venezuela, and the world are safer because of it.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor following a secure Senate briefing about the arrest of Venezuelan dictator and indicted drug trafficker Nicolas Maduro. Senator Barrasso praised the historic law enforcement operation to protect Americans’ safety and security.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“I rise today having just come from the classified briefing about the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. Our country has carried out one of the boldest law enforcement operations in decades. We should celebrate it. This administration had the courage to do what was right and what needed to be done. America, Venezuela, and the world are safer because of it.
“Operation Absolute Resolve was conducted for one reason: to bring to justice a murderous dictator and indicted drug trafficker. Maduro is an outlaw. The Trump administration indicted him in 2020 on drug trafficking charges. President Trump put a $15 million bounty on him. The Biden administration agreed. They increased that bounty to $25 million.
“Neither the first Trump administration, nor the Biden administration, nor the current administration recognized Maduro as the legitimate leader of the people of Venezuela. We are not alone in that view. Many of our allies hold that same position. Yet only America had the resolve and the resources to bring Maduro to justice. No American lives were lost. It was a textbook example of Peace through Strength. The message to the entire world is clear. If you poison and kill the American people, you will be held accountable.
“Arresting Maduro also advances America’s national security. Maduro’s allies and enablers are united in their commitment to undermine America – China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, even Hezbollah. Communist China was buying half a million barrels of oil each and every day from Venezuela. In exchange for that oil, China has loaned Venezuela $106 billion this century. Just hours before his arrest, Maduro was meeting in Caracas with officials of the Chinese Communist Party. This Axis of Aggression is weaker now because President Trump has taken decisive action.
“All around the world, people are seeing the failure of dictatorships. That is why Venezuelans are celebrating in the streets today. It is also why Iranians are uniting today across their country to protest a suppressive dictatorship. They have good reason to demand their freedom.
“There are Democrats in this chamber who are using the arrest of Nicolas Maduro not to advance American interest, but to attack President Trump. This week, they will force a vote on another War Powers Resolution to tie the hands of the President. Let’s be clear about what that resolution does and what it does not do. It does not reassert Congress’s powers. It does not make America stronger. It makes America weaker and less safe. It would weaken the President’s legitimate, constitutional authority. This body, the United States Senate, is being asked whether the President of the United States has the authority to arrest indicted criminals. Of course he does. Democrats want to weaken the President’s ability to enforce the law. That is the wrong message to send to hardened drug traffickers and to dictators.
“It’s interesting, because for years, Democrats were for holding Maduro accountable. Senator Chris Murphy – Democrat from Connecticut – tweeted in 2019 that ‘getting rid of Maduro is good for the United States.’ Senator Chuck Schumer – the Democrat Leader – came to this very floor in 2020 and complained that President Trump ‘hasn’t brought an end to the Maduro regime.’ Senator Chris Van Hollen – Democrat from Maryland – told MSNBC just last year, ‘The United States needs to work with its partners and allies in the region to ratchet up the pressure’ on Venezuela. Democrats know absolutely that President Trump did the absolute right thing. They prefer to play politics instead. Within the last several days, Senator Schumer called arresting Maduro ‘reckless.’ Senator Van Hollen said it was ‘an illegal act of war.’ Senator Murphy told CNN on Sunday Venezuela is ‘not a security threat’ to the United States. Evidently, they were for it before they were against it.
“The question I have for Democrats is, do they no longer think that arresting Maduro is a good thing? They supported it in the past. Arresting Maduro was not partisan or political. It was a professionally executed law enforcement action. Every parent is happy about the arrest. Their children will now be safer. This arrest will save thousands of American lives – lives that would have been lost due to Maduro’s drug trafficking.
“On Saturday, President Trump took bold action to protect the citizens of this country. We should celebrate the success in Venezuela and take great pride in the brave men and women who carried out the successful mission. Republicans will continue to stand on the side of safety, security, and peace through strength.”
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