1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to investigate the legal basis for President Trump's military strikes in Venezuela on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The shifting justifications and apparent disregard for constitutional requirements demand congressional scrutiny. On November 2, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that land strikes in Venezuela would require congressional approval, stating such action would constitute war. Days later, Trump administration officials privately told members of Congress they lacked legal justification for attacks on land targets in Venezuela. Yet two months later, the administration launched what Trump called a "large scale strike against Venezuela" without seeking congressional authorization. The administration's justifications have been inconsistent and troubling. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the action was necessary to protect personnel executing an arrest warrant. Vice President JD Vance argued it was legal because Maduro faces U.S. indictments for narcoterrorism. Trump himself suggested broader ambitions, stating "We're going to rebuild the oil infrastructure" and "We're going to run the country right," even mentioning reclaiming "the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us." The administration appears to be relying on a controversial 1989 memo written by William P. Barr that concluded a president has "inherent constitutional authority" to order apprehension of foreign nationals in foreign countries, even if it violates international law. This memo was used to justify the Panama operation against Manuel Noriega, also captured on January 3. However, this extraordinarily broad interpretation of presidential authority remains disputed. Congress was apparently not notified ahead of time, violating even the bare minimum standard for such operations. Trump has invoked the possibility of further military options, suggesting this extends beyond a simple arrest operation. I urge you to demand full briefings on the legal justification for this action and assert Congress's constitutional war powers authority.