Vice Chair Murray, Leader Schumer, National Security Committees Ranking Members Condemn Trump Administration Plan To Run Venezuela

Washington, D.C. - Today, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chris Coons (D-DE), Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark Warner (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Housing, Banking and Urban Affairs Committee Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Brian Schatz (D-HI) released the following statement after President Trump's announcement that he plans for the U.S. to "run" Venezuela:

"We strongly condemn President Trump's announced plans to occupy Venezuela. We have many urgent needs here at home and President Trump's statement that "we are not afraid of boots on the ground," begs for clarity on the risks he plans to take with the lives of American service members. Having lied to Congress and misled the American people about his goals while spending months preparing to capture Maduro, the administration has to come clean with Congress and our nation about its real plans in Venezuela. The American people deserve answers about what vital interests are at stake and how this advances their security, neither of which this administration has provided."

###