1. United States
2. Vt.
3. Letter

Senator Sanders, I am writing as a Vermont constituent who has long respected your consistency, integrity, and willingness to stand against abuses of power—especially when it comes to war and the unchecked use of military force. Because of that respect, I’m urging you to speak out forcefully against the United States’ recent military action in Venezuela, which appears to have been carried out without congressional authorization and with civilian harm. You have spent your career warning about exactly this kind of executive overreach: presidents of any party launching military actions without debate, without approval from Congress, and without accountability to the American people. That principle matters even—and especially—when it is politically inconvenient. If another country attacked the United States because it disliked our president, we would call it an act of aggression. We cannot claim moral authority while excusing the same behavior when our government does it. That double standard undermines international law, endangers civilians, and ultimately makes Americans less safe. I am asking you to: - Publicly oppose the use of force without congressional authorization - Demand transparency regarding civilian casualties and the legal basis for this action - Push for immediate congressional oversight and enforcement of the War Powers Resolution Your voice carries moral weight precisely because you have been willing, time and again, to say that no president is above the Constitution. Thank you for your decades of service and for continuing to stand for restraint, accountability, and human dignity. I hope you will speak clearly in this moment as well.