Forward National Issues Statement on the capture of Nicolas Maduro...

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The capture of Nicolás Maduro raises serious questions about the limits of U.S. presidential authority, and likely violates international law.

The U.S. has lawful extradition processes, including for drug trafficking cases, but forcibly removing a sitting head of state-even one widely regarded as illegitimate-creates a dangerous precedent.

Maduro is a bad actor who caused great harm to the Venezuelan people and has well-documented ties to international drug networks, but unilateral regime change in an oil-rich country risks civil unrest, regional instability, and another open-ended U.S. foreign entanglement.

Statements by the President suggesting the United States will "run" Venezuela only deepen those concerns and point toward occupation, not lawful action.

When America ignores the rule of law, it gives cover to China and Russia to do the same and makes the world less stable.

Congress must step in, put country and rule of law over party, and reassert its constitutional role before Presidential unilateral action becomes the norm.

- FORWARD PARTY