Trump’s Venezuela strategy draws scrutiny from Congress as Maduro sits in jail

Ahead of a Senate briefing on the operation to capture Maduro, Democratic lawmakers questioned the Trump administration’s Venezuela strategy on Tuesday and pressed for more details, while most Republicans lauded the operation.

Some Senate Democrats have indicated they plan to press for a war powers vote as early as this week to block further military action in Venezuela. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a longtime skeptic of military interventions, is expected to join them. The House and Senate have held similar votes in recent months, all of which have fallen short.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, was unimpressed with an earlier briefing to congressional leaders on Monday, telling reporters that administration officials “have no idea what steps 2 through 10 are going to be.”

Other Democrats have questioned the operation’s legality, and have criticized Mr. Trump’s focus on Venezuelan oil or his suggestion that he will “run” Venezuela.

“If Donald Trump wants to run a country, he should think about running the United States of America,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

Republicans have largely stood by the president, arguing the military operation was legal and justified. Most have also expressed confidence in Mr. Trump’s strategy.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told reporters he’s confident there is a plan for how the U.S. will operate in Venezuela, but “the next few days are going to be key” in assessing the “government structure” and “how willing they are to work with the U.S.” 

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said: “We are in charge of Venezuela.” 

“For those who are saying that we’re going to run and occupy Venezuela, we’re not,” Graham added. “We’re going to build up the country — we’re running it for now.”