Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom.
Maduro made his first appearance in an American courtroom Monday on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York.
Members of Connecticut's congressional delegation sounded off on the news.
Connecticut U.S. Rep. Jim Himes told NPR's “Morning Edition” he is not optimistic the Trump administration's regime change in Venezuela will end well.
“Point to me in the last generation one instance of the United States effecting regime change and having everything go well – you just can't,” he said. “You can point to Afghanistan and Iraq and Libya.”
The Democrat, who represents Connecticut’s 4th District, serves as the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee. Himes said he has seen no evidence that Maduro posed a threat to the U.S. that justified military action.
But the Trump administration disagrees.
It’s accusing Maduro, along with his wife, son and three others, of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said the Trump administration's military action in Venezuela is an illegal attack. The Connecticut Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union” that he believes the capture of the Venezuelan president has nothing to do with American security.
“Yes they produce drugs, but those drugs go to Europe,” Murphy said. “Fentanyl is the drug that’s killing Americans. That’s not coming from Venezuela. Venezuela produces cocaine.”
“This seems to be mostly about oil,” he said.
Murphy said the Trump administration's foreign policy is "about making money for the president's friends."
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal told reporters in Hartford on Monday that he would not be part of the security briefing by administration officials to heads of Congressional key committees, and he called on the administration to make more information public.
“President Trump owes the American people facts and clarity an explanation for the use of military force against a sovereign country in seeming violation of our Constitution and without any clear national interest or need in terms of national security,” Blumenthal said. “He has to come forward to the American people, not just to Congress, with an explanation.”
Blumenthal, a Democrat, said he is concerned the latest actions could lead to an endless war.
“The president's stating that he's going to run Venezuela and that the American military will be in charge, and that the same may be done in other countries like Iran or Colombia or even Mexico, is deeply concerning. My fear here is that we are unleashing chaos and instability in this region,” he said.
Blumenthal plans to vote this week for the war powers resolution, designed to stop additional military action unless the president gets approval from Congress.
“That would say [President Trump] has to come to Congress if he is going to continue this military intervention,” he said.
Later on Monday, the Connecticut Republican Party celebrated the U.S. capture of Maduro. Party Chair Ben Proto said he disputes the characterization of this weekend’s actions as an attack on the South American country.
“I don’t think it was an attack on Venezuela. I think it was an action to arrest a criminal. So I think Donald Trump did a great thing in bringing Maduro to trial. I think it was well-executed,” Proto said.
The New York Times reports the American attack killed at least 80 people, both military personnel and civilians.
Proto said the operation puts other nations on notice.
“I think we proved our military can pretty much do whatever it wants around the world, which I think sends a message to a lot of people,” Proto said. “But all in all, I think bringing Maduro to trial and arresting him … is a good thing.”
Maduro’s capture is vindicating for the families of Americans lost to drug overdoses, according to Proto, echoing the Trump administration’s concerns about the spread of drugs from Venezuela.
Trump has since said the invasion of Venezuela was also motivated by a desire to take control of its oil.
Community reaction
Reaction was intense among people living in Connecticut with ties to Venezuela.
Fabian Durango, who lives in Norwalk but is from Venezuela, is happy Maduro is in federal custody.
"He's in jail now, he's in the hands of the law," Durango said. "Let God and the law take care of him."
But Durango says much of the Venezuelan state is still functioning, and the government could very well continue without Maduro.
Clodomiro Falcón of Stratford agrees.
“We cannot be blind to deny that Venezuela was conducted by a criminal organization, and many of the actors are still there," Falcón said.
Connecticut Public’s Jeni Ahrens, Chris Polansky, Eddy Martinez, Daniela Doncel and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
