Venezuelan President Taken into US Custody to Face Criminal Charges, Says Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been detained by US authorities and taken into custody to face criminal charges in the United States.
According to Senator Mike Lee, who shared the details on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning, Rubio informed him that the “kinetic action” witnessed during Maduro’s arrest was carried out solely to protect and defend US personnel executing a lawful arrest warrant.
Lee stated that, according to Rubio, the action falls within the powers granted to the US president under Article II of the Constitution, aimed at safeguarding American officials from any real or imminent threat. The senator added that Rubio indicated no further military or enforcement action is expected in Venezuela now that Maduro is in US custody.
CNN has contacted the US State Department for an official response regarding the matter.
It is worth noting that earlier on Saturday, Senator Mike Lee had expressed reservations about the operation, writing on X that he was awaiting clarification on how such an action could be constitutionally justified without a formal declaration of war or explicit authorization for the use of military force.
