1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's military strikes on Venezuela have resulted in 80 deaths and violated fundamental constitutional requirements for congressional oversight of military action. I am writing to urge you to reassert Congress's constitutional authority over the use of military force and hold this administration accountable for bypassing required legal procedures. The administration failed to brief the Gang of Eight before or within 48 hours of the strikes, as required by law. Representative Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee and Gang of Eight member, confirmed that neither he nor House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries received any briefing. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer revealed that the administration deliberately misled Congress in three classified briefings before the strikes, explicitly assuring lawmakers they were not planning military action or regime change in Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the strikes were merely a law enforcement operation to arrest Maduro, not requiring congressional authorization. Yet President Trump immediately contradicted this by stating the U.S. intended to take over Venezuela's oil fields and run the country. A law enforcement operation does not result in 80 deaths or involve seizing another nation's natural resources. The American people oppose this intervention. December polling showed 60% of likely voters opposed sending troops to remove Maduro, with only 33% approving. A CBS poll found 75% of Americans, including 58% of Republicans, correctly believed a president must get congressional approval before taking military action against Venezuela. Representative Himes warned we are in an euphoria period similar to the early days of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, noting it is easier to break a country than to run it. I urge you to demand full briefings on the Venezuela operation, require congressional authorization for any continued military action, and pass legislation strengthening congressional oversight of executive military power. The Constitution vests war powers in Congress for precisely this reason.