Overnight Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela and his wife Cilia Flores, were captured in an large-scale raid by the United States military. President Trump is expected to speak on the capture at a press conference at 11:00 am this morning.
It is expected he will be tried in a Federal court in New York An indictment of him was issued in 2020 in which he was accused of importing 250 tons of cocaine into the US a year. If convicted, he could serve a life sentence as a maximum or at the least 37 years as a minimum. In that indictment, his wife was not included.
However, AG Pam Bondi has announced around 10:00 am this morning that a new indictment would be issued to include his wife who was captured overnight with the president. They are currentlly aboard a US war ship returning to the US to stand criminal trial. They are being interrogated abcard that ship as they approach the US. Trump did not seek congressional approval for this action. Maduro is expected to arrive at New York Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York in Orange county around 5:00 pm.. Then he will be transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, until his arrignment in court in Manhattan on Monday, January 5, 2025. A facility known to be cold and rat infested. AG Bondi said Maduro will “face the full wrath of American justice.” AG Bondi has not responded to charges that this action is a violation of international law by legal scholars in the US as well as around the world.
It appears that no Americans were seriously injured in this raid. Maduro was removed from a “fortress” like home. He was trying to get into a “safe space” in the fortress, but was captured before that happened. Some cable news critics are saying:that the Pottery Barn rule applies here: “You break it you own it.”
At the press conferrence that occurred at 11:40 am this morning, President Trump said that 150 air craft took part in this “large-scale” raid in Venezeula during a very dark night in the capitol. At 11:46 pm last night, President Trump gave the order to the military to commence the operation. One American helicopter was shot, but it was able to continue with the raid and returned safely to American soil. No Americans were injured during this raid. The President also said that until suitable leadership is in place, the US will run the country. “We are talking to many people,” the President said. Trump can’t run this country. How can he run two countries many are asking.
Reaction from world leaders was swift with a combination of outrage and concern. A Russian official said he was “extremely alarmed” by this action of the US President. An official from China said he was “deeply shocked at the “blatant” act. The United Nations said it was “deeply alarmed” and that the US strikes could have violated international law.
Is this why you voted for Trump? Will this action lower the prices of healh care, food, housing, child care, etc? Most Mainers this blogger knows are little interested in this raid because they are more interested in kitchen table issues that the authoritarian President has called a “democratic hoax.” .