U.S. forces arrest President Nicolás Maduro, send him to New York for federal prosecution

U.S. forces launched a comprehensive military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

“Regional and international reactions to the United States' bombing of Venezuelan territory and the arrest of its president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and their removal from the country, after the announcement by U”

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They deployed more than 150 aircraft including bombers, fighter jets, surveillance planes, helicopters and drones from 20 bases in the Western Hemisphere.

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The operation was a surprise overnight assault that rocked the Venezuelan capital with explosions early Saturday.

According to fox6now, 'The U.S. attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro sent shockwaves around the world, raising serious questions about whether the aggression violated international law.'

Port City Daily detailed the scope of the assault, noting 'U.S. special forces captured Maduro and Flores Saturday morning in a surprise mission in Caracas, Venezuela.'

The same source reported 'seven bombs were dropped at several locations, including the office of the president, the legislative building and military bases and ports.'

The operation culminated with the ousted Venezuelan leader being transported to New York on a U.S. warship.

PBS confirmed that 'the middle-of-the-night seizure of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were transported on a U.S. warship to face narco-terrorism conspiracy charges in New York.'

Legal experts described this as 'beyond even the most high-profile historical examples of aggressive American actions toward autocratic governments in Panama, Iraq and beyond.'

Following his capture, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores made their initial court appearance in New York.

They pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices.

AP News

Port City Daily described the dramatic scene, noting 'On Monday afternoon, clad in prison garb and seen publicly for the first time since his arrest, Venezuela's president and his wife pleaded not guilty on narco-terrorism, among other charges.'

The same source quoted Maduro declaring 'I am still the president of my country... I'm innocent. I'm a decent man.'

The U.S. government alleges that Maduro and his allies provided cover and support to drug cartels.

Port City Daily reported 'The U.S. government believe Maduro and his allies provided cover and support to the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua gang, among others.'

They also reported 'used the guise of diplomacy to give passports to and provide flights for drug traffickers.'

CBS News provided additional context about the capture, noting 'The Trump administration described the operation — and earlier deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea — as necessary to stem the flow of dangerous drugs.'

CBS News confirmed the serious nature of the charges against the former Venezuelan leader.

The capture of Maduro triggered mixed reactions both domestically and internationally.

Celebrations occurred in some Venezuelan neighborhoods.

These were countered by protests and counter-demonstrations in New York.

Port City Daily documented the divergent responses, noting 'His capture has resulted in a series of mixed reactions, including signs of celebration on the streets in Venezuela.'

The same source reported 'some people happy to be free from Maduro's regime for the first time since 2013.'

However, 'on Monday there were protests and counter-protests in front of the Manhattan courthouse.'

International reaction was largely critical, with fox6now reporting 'Nine countries denounced the U.S. actions to capture and extradite the Venezuelan president.'

PBS noted that 'The Congressional Black Caucus is blasting Trump over U.S. actions against Maduro, calling the operation 'a grave and illegal abuse of power.'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney weighed in, with PBS reporting 'Carney says his government welcomes the opportunity for freedom, democracy and prosperity for the Venezuelan people.'

Carney emphasized that 'Canada has not recognized the 'illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election.'

Legal experts across the political spectrum have raised serious questions about the legality of the U.S. military action under international law.

Many characterizing it as a violation of the United Nations Charter.

fox6now

fox6now interviewed multiple legal authorities, noting 'According to The New York Times, Maduro's capture appears to be a violation of the United Nations Charter, a treaty ratified by the United States.'

The same source quoted Jimmy Gurule, a Notre Dame Law School professor and former assistant U.S. attorney, stating 'This is clearly a blatant, illegal and criminal act.'

Port City Daily reported that 'The charter states that a nation may not use force on the sovereign territory of another country without U.N. Security Council approval, unless the action was in self-defense.'

PBS quoted Michael Schmitt, a former Air Force lawyer and professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval War College, saying 'Lawyers call it international armed conflict... So as a matter of law, we are now at war with Venezuela because the use of hostilities between two states clearly triggers an internal armed conflict.'

The legal concerns were further complicated by the fact that Congress had not authorized the military action.

fox6now noted 'Congress has broad authority to authorize or limit the president's war powers, but it has not done either in Venezuela.'

The same source reported that 'Trump effectively declared that trafficking of drugs into the U.S. amounts to armed conflict requiring the use of military force.'

The Trump administration has signaled its intentions to directly control Venezuela's vast oil resources.

“Associated PressAssociated Press Leave your feedback Hours after a dramatic military operation ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power and removed him from the country Saturday, President Donald Trump said the United States would "run" Venezuela at least temporarily and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations”

PBS

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that 'the U.S. will 'run' Venezuela, at least temporarily, and tap its vast oil reserves to sell to other nations.'

PBS

fox6now reported this significant policy shift, noting that the capture of Maduro 'raises serious questions about whether the aggression violated international law.'

The same source reported that Trump made clear his plans for Venezuela's natural wealth.

CBS News quoted H.R. McMaster, former national security adviser, who explained that the operation was focused on 'drying up their cash flow.'

McMaster noted measures like 'the interdiction of the oil tankers and the destruction of the boats, cutting off his access to the narcotics funds.'

PBS reported on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's hints about future interventions.

The same source noted 'Rubio is hinting that Cuba could be the next target of the Trump administration's push to restore American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.'

Rubio stated 'If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned at least a little bit.'

The prospect of U.S. control over Venezuela's oil reserves raises additional legal questions.

PBS quoted Matthew Waxman, a Columbia University law professor, who noted 'a big issue will be who really owns Venezuela's oil?'

Waxman stated 'An occupying military power can't enrich itself by taking another state's resources, but the Trump administration will probably claim that the Venezuelan government never rightfully held them.'

Congressional reaction has been sharply divided, with Democratic leaders expressing outrage.

They characterize this as an abuse of presidential power and broken assurances.

PBS reported that 'Senate Democratic leader [Chuck Schumer] said, 'The idea that Trump plans to now run Venezuela should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans.'

The same source noted that 'the Trump administration had assured him multiple times it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela.'

Schumer stated 'Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans.'

The Congressional Black Caucus issued a strong condemnation.

PBS reported they called the operation 'a grave and illegal abuse of power.'

They warned that 'the deployment of U.S. military power to impose political change in a sovereign nation — without the consent of Congress or a clear and defined plan of action — threatens to draw the United States into an indefinite conflict in Venezuela.'

CBS News reported that administration officials would give some members of Congress a classified briefing.

The same source noted 'Trump administration officials will give some members of Congress a classified briefing on Venezuela at 5:30 p.m. Monday.'

However, CBS News highlighted the lack of prior consultation.

They noted that 'Congress has broad authority to authorize or limit the president's war powers, but it has not done either in Venezuela.'