Patty Murray: “I am beyond outraged that President Trump would commit such a brazen act of war as he has done in Venezuela with…”

“I am beyond outraged that President Trump would commit such a brazen act of war as he has done in Venezuela with absolutely no notice, except to the oil companies and newspapers they leaked it to. No consultation with Congress, no legitimate justification for these unauthorized strikes, nor any kind of serious long-term strategy. It is unquestionably an act of war to invade a foreign nation, kidnap a foreign leader--even a dictator--and leave dozens of bodies, including civilians, behind. Would my colleagues still nod their heads and go along with it if a country tried to do this to American leaders? Of course not. So we should stop playing dumb. Trump can't just say magic words and pretend this wasn't a major military operation. This is the U.S. Congress, and we have a constitutional role to be a check on the President. Only Congress can declare war, and Congress did not authorize the use of force against Venezuela. Now, I opposed the war in Iraq from the outset. And the parallels to what President Trump has kicked off in Venezuela are glaring. And I absolutely will not support any large-scale military conflict in Venezuela or a dangerous and expansive occupation. We have a President ignoring the problems that he has caused in our own country, all to start a war no one asked for, with no legitimate justification, no concern for the servicemembers who are being put in harm's way, and absolutely no long-term strategy.”