Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to comment on whether the administration would consult Congress before invading Venezuela, saying “I don’t want to speak to that.”
Pompeo shunned all questions about the role of Congress in a potential
Venezuelan war, saying he is confident that President Trump has
sufficient authority that whatever he decides will be legal.
This is a serious question constitutionally. Lawmakers note that the
power to declare war lies exclusively with Congress. Fresh off of the
veto of the Yemen War challenge, there is reason to question if the law
matches up to the practical reality of US war-making anymore.
Pompeo would just insist that the US-imposed regime change in Venezuela
is an inevitability, with or without the invasion. Though he has talked
up the willingness to launch such an invasion, the administration seems
to prefer to be vague about the specifics.
That’s likely because Congress may feel that, if war is imminent, they
have a pressing need to pass legislation on the war, potentially
complicating a unilateral attack. The administration reportedly has split
on the matter of starting a war, though either way they seem securely
on the side of Congress not being involved in that conversation.
Pompeo Won’t Promise to Consult Congress Before Attacking Venezuela
Says anything Trump decides to do would be legal
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