US House rejects resolution restricting Trump’s power to attack Venezuela

The US House of Representatives failed on Thursday to pass a Democratic-sponsored war powers resolution aimed at blocking President Donald Trump from using the military in Venezuela without congressional approval. Republicans blocked the measure in a 215–215 tie.

According to The Hill, the resolution would direct Trump to “remove United States Armed Forces from Venezuela unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific statutory authorization for the use of military force.”

Jim McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts who introduced the resolution, blasted Republicans for their “shameful” vote.

“We were told the Trump administration would come to Congress before attacking Venezuela – they did not. To this day the White House still can’t give clear answers about why our troops were put in harm’s way,” he said.

Republicans dismissed the concerns of boots on the ground in Venezuela. “Democrats are asking us to vote on a resolution about a situation that literally does not exist,” Brian Mast, a Republican from Florida, said. “We do not have anybody there in Venezuela fighting. There are no tanks on the ground in Caracas, there are no snipers in the tree line,” he added.

Democrats have criticized Trump for not seeking congressional approval when he ordered a lightning raid on Caracas earlier this month that resulted in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US suffered no casualties among its forces in the operation. The Venezuelan government condemned the raid as a gross violation of its sovereignty.