Congressman reacts to the capture of Maduro following a U.S. operation

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann is reacting to the capture of Nicolás Maduro following a U.S. mission in Venezuela.

Fleischmann says the mission was focused on capturing a dangerous individual while protecting U.S. interests.

One of the main concerns circulating about the operation is that Congress was not notified beforehand.

The congressman says Maduro was wanted in connection with a federal case and had previously been given the opportunity to turn himself in.

“The United States gave him that chance,” Fleischmann said. “Go to another country. Allow democratic elections in your country, winner be who they may, but he refused to go.”

Fleischmann says he supports President Trump’s decision to move forward with the operation and believes it was carried out appropriately under his authority as commander in chief.

“He was given the opportunity by the United States to leave that country,” Fleischmann said. “A country where he is a dictator, a communist dictator, who has ignored the rule of law and fixed elections. But he refused to go.”

Fleischmann also addressed comparisons being made to past U.S. actions in the region, saying each situation must be viewed within its own historical and present-day context.

“I don’t think you can really compare this to past actions,” he said. “You have to put it in both a historical and a present context.”

He pointed to longstanding concerns in South and Central America, saying dictatorships have contributed to instability and humanitarian crises.

“Countries like Venezuela and others in Central America are experiencing unbearable conditions,” Fleischmann said. “These dictatorships deny human rights, torture their citizens, and refuse to abide by free and fair elections.”

Fleischmann added that Venezuela’s ties with Cuba and Russia have worked against U.S. interests, and he praised the administration’s approach.

“I give the president an A-plus for standing up for democracy and the rule of law,” he said. “We want to see free South American countries that work with the United States, not with Cuba and not with Russia.”

The congressman also addressed Venezuela’s natural resources, particularly oil, saying the country’s potential could benefit both its people and the global market.

“Venezuela has been blessed with wonderful natural resources,” Fleischmann said. “Oil is one of them. If Venezuela is free, fair, and democratic, increased production could help the country and help stabilize oil prices worldwide.”

Fleischmann emphasized that the long-term goal is stability and democracy.

“Ultimately, we want Venezuela to succeed,” he said. “We want it to be free, fair, and democratic.”