Rep. Tom McClintock (R-El Dorado Hills) and the Democratic challenger for his 5th Congressional District seat, Michael Masuda, each issued statements on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
And, to virtually nobody’s surprise, the two are on opposite sides of the debate.
In a lightning military strike, the U.S. captured Venezuela’s first couple and spirited them out of the country to face justice in the U.S.
The military operation followed months of escalating pressure by the Trump administration, which built up naval forces in the waters off South America and since early September has carried out deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges Monday in a New York City courtroom.
“The arrest of Maduro has advanced both the cause of justice and freedom in the Western hemisphere and revived the Monroe Doctrine for our national security,” said McClintock, who won a ninth term in Congress last November. “It is an astounding tactical success of American armed forces and a testament to the decisiveness and resolve of President Trump and his advisors.
“The contrast between American socialists protesting Maduro’s ouster with the jubilation of ordinary Venezuelans celebrating their deliverance speaks for itself.”
Trump said that the U.S. is “going to run” Venezuela until a transition of power can take place.
“I strongly condemn the aggressive and unilateral actions taken by the Trump administration toward Venezuela, the attack on Venezuela’s sovereign territory, and the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife,” said Masuda, waging his first political campaign. “These actions are an explicit act of war and a dangerous violation of the U.S. Constitution. Trump, in his speech (Saturday) morning, stated that ‘We will run Venezuela until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,’ effectively declaring that the U.S. is participating in regime change.”
Masuda, who grew up in Amador County, is a former Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. State Department.
“As a former diplomat, I have seen firsthand that American strength comes from restraint alliances, and the rule of law.,” Masuda added. “Abandoning those principles doesn't make us safer. These actions dangerously escalate regional tensions, threaten the stability of Latin America, risk triggering an immigration crisis to the United States, and pull our nation into another geopolitical conflict at great cost to American service members, their families, and taxpayers.”
Masuda called on Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
On Tuesday, Trump said that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries.
The White House is organizing a meeting for later this week with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the administration has been pressuring to open its vast, but struggling, oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how.
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.
