January 3, 2026

JONATHAN TURLEY: Why capture of Maduro didn't require approval from Congress

Legal analysis explores potential US action against Venezuela's Maduro, citing Noriega precedent and drug trafficking charges involving Honduras.

JONATHAN TURLEY: Why capture of Maduro didn't require approval from Congress

TL;DR

  • US special forces conducted a military operation in Caracas, seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
  • Maduro faces pending charges in the Southern District of New York for narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
  • The operation is compared to the 1989 capture and prosecution of Manuel Antonio Noriega.
  • The article discusses the legal framework and precedents supporting the operation, including the Alvarez-Machain Supreme Court decision.
  • Democratic members of Congress have denounced the operation as unlawful, while the article argues the President has the authority for such actions.
  • The operation is presented as a significant foreign policy move, potentially impacting relations with Venezuela and Cuba.
  • Maduro is expected to use similar legal arguments as Noriega regarding head-of-state immunity and extradition treaties.

Continue reading the original article

Made withNostr