Reactions to Friday night’s/Saturday morning’s U.S military operation in Venezuela are coming in from across Maine’s political landscape.
In what President Trump described as “a large-scale strike against Venezuela”, the military bombed multiple targets and captured Venezuela’s president, Nicholas Maduro.
In a statement, Maine Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree condemned the attack, saying it was a direct violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. She also added that it set a deeply alarming precedent for unchecked executive power in matters of war and peace.
“Just a few weeks ago, Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth told every U.S. Senator that their actions in the region—which were already legally dubious—had nothing to do with regime change. That was clearly a lie.” she said.
2nd District Representative Jared Golden also weighed in, saying that while he isn’t shedding any tears for the Venezuelan president, Trump should’ve gone through Congress first. Golden, a Democrat, also added that the situation could easily “…devolve into quagmire and corruption”.
“The president must advise Congress — as President George H. W. Bush did during the Panama operation that captured the dictator Noriega, about the administration’s plans going forward.” he added.
In a Facebook post, Maine Governor Janet Mills said that while she believes the people of Venezuela deserve a democratically elected leader, she said the attack doesn’t guarantee that’ll happen.
Mills’s Democratic senate primary challenger Graham Platner weighed in online as well, saying he watched his friends die in Iraq while he was a Marine in the wake of speeches like Trump’s post-attack press conference.
Both also took shots at Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, with Mills saying that while Trump’s actions are unacceptable, they’re also not surprising. “Trump knows Susan Collins and Republicans in Congress won’t hold him accountable” she said.
Collins herself said in a statement that Maduro is a narco-terrorist and international drug trafficker who should stand trial in this country. She also said she was personally briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but that Congress “…should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves”.
Collins voted against a measure this past November that would’ve limited Trump’s authority to use the military against Venezuela without congressional approval.
Maine’s Independent Senator Angus King told the Portland Press Herald that while he views Maduro as an illegitimate leader who must face consequences, he’s also concerned about setting a precedent that gives the President sole authority to declare war. King also added that the operation could invite similar acts of aggression by unfriendly regimes like China, North Korea, or Russia.
“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” he added.
To read the original Portland Press Herald article, click here.
To read the original CBS 13 article, click here.
