United States (U.S.) soldiers have invaded Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been arrested.
Maduro will stand trial in the U.S. for criminal charges.
U.S. President, Donald Trump, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, confirmed the development on Saturday.
Senator Mike Lee disclosed that Rubio informed him that “Maduro has been arrested to stand trial on criminal charges in the US”.
Lee said he had spoken directly with Rubio following what he described as “kinetic action” earlier in the evening.
“He informed me that Nicolas Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant,” Lee said on US social media company X.
Lee said the action “likely” falls within President Donald Trump’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect US personnel from an actual or imminent attack.
The senator said Rubio “anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody.”
His remarks came after Trump said the U.S. “successfully” carried out a “large scale strike” against Venezuela, claiming Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country.”
Trump announced: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
