Senate Democrats, after winning a vote to limit President Trump’s war powers related to Venezuela, have asked Republican committee chairs to hold public hearings on the operation involving Nicolás Maduro and the administration’s next steps. A letter first seen by Semafor and signed by nine Democrats led by Sen. Michael Bennet calls for transparency about why U.S. servicemembers were put at risk and what comes next. Although lawmakers received a private briefing this week, Democrats say Congress must reassert its constitutional oversight role.
Democrats Demand Public Hearings After Maduro Operation, Urge Congress to Reassert Oversight
Fresh off a Senate-floor win aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war powers over Venezuela, a group of Senate Democrats is pressing Republican committee leaders to hold public hearings on the recent operation involving Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the administration’s broader plans for the country and region.
In a letter first viewed by Semafor, nine Democrats led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) asked the chairs of the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Judiciary and Intelligence committees to convene public proceedings that would explain why U.S. servicemembers were put at risk and what the United States intends to do next.
“The public deserves clarity as to why the president put our servicemembers in harm’s way and what his plan is in Venezuela moving forward,” the senators wrote, according to the letter.
Lawmakers were given a private briefing this week, conducted behind closed doors, on the operation targeting Maduro and proposed next steps. But the Democratic senators argue that private briefings are not sufficient and that Congress must fulfill its constitutional duty to provide robust oversight of any military or diplomatic actions related to Venezuela.
Why Democrats Want Public Hearings
Transparency and Accountability: Democrats say public hearings would allow elected representatives to explain decisions to the American people and to evaluate the legal and strategic rationale for U.S. involvement.
Oversight Role: The senators stress Congress’s constitutional responsibility to weigh in on significant uses of military force and to reassert its role in future Venezuela-related decisions.
“Congress must fulfill its constitutional duty to conduct oversight and reassert its role in future decisions regarding Venezuela,” the letter states.
The request sets up a potential partisan clash over how much public scrutiny the White House and the intelligence and defense committees will allow, and whether additional constraints on presidential war powers will gain broader support in the Senate.
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