Utah Senator Mike Lee stated on Saturday that he was informed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been arrested by US personnel and transferred to the United States to face criminal charges.
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In a message shared on his personal account on X, Lee said the operation appeared to fall under the president’s constitutional powers. He explained that such authority is granted by Article II of the US Constitution, allowing the president to act in order to safeguard American personnel from immediate or potential threats.
Lee said he had spoken directly with Rubio, who confirmed that US forces executed the arrest warrant and carried out what Lee described as “kinetic action” to ensure the safety of those involved in the operation. He added that the measures taken were strictly defensive and aimed at protecting US officials during the mission.
In a follow-up post, Lee said he was told that no additional military or enforcement actions were expected inside Venezuela now that Maduro was in US custody.
The senator’s comments came shortly after President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched a major strike in Venezuela. Trump claimed that the operation resulted in the capture of the country’s sitting president and his wife, who were then flown out of the country.
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