Congress divided after briefing on U.S. raid that captured Maduro

Congressional leaders emerged divided after a classified briefing about a U.S. military raid in Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro, with lawmakers split along partisan lines over the legality, scope and objectives of an operation carried out without consultation with Congress.

Top Republicans said they were satisfied with the information presented, while Democrats accused the administration of obfuscating and offering few answers about next steps. The briefing on Capitol Hill was for the Gang of Eight and included additional Republican chairmen and senior Democrats from the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.

The session was led, according to lawmakers, by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, and was joined by C.I.A. Director John Ratcliffe and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Democrats voiced sharp concerns: Representative Gregory Meeks said he was "very concerned about what happens next," and Senator Chuck Schumer called the plan "vague, based on wishful thinking and unsatisfying." Republicans including Speaker Mike Johnson defended the legality of the operation and rejected the idea that the United States was at war or occupying Venezuela.

President Trump said he had bypassed Congress out of concern lawmakers would leak details, and Mr. Trump earlier said in an interview he was unconcerned by the distinction between rebuilding and regime change.

Key Topics

Politics, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, U.s. Congress, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio