House Dems to force war powers vote to rein in Trump on Venezuela

House Democrats are set to force a pair of votes Wednesday in Congress to rein in Trump’s ability to attack Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro — a day after Trump declared the Caracas government a “foreign terrorist organization” and called for a “total and complete blockade” of the country’s oil imports and exports.The House will vote on two separate war powers resolutions to block additional military action without Congress’ explicit OK — one aimed at pulling US forces out of any conflict with Venezuelan forces, and another insisting that any new land offensive must be approved by Congress first.Under US law, Congress can use the War Powers Act to check the president’s unilateral power to commit the country to US conflict without the legislative branch’s consent — as the Constitution holds that only Congress has the ability to declare war.Rep.

Gregory Meeks (D-NY) introduced a bill that would remove US troops “from hostilities with any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere” without lawmakers’ authorization.A second bill by Rep.Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) is less specific, and would remove the American forces “from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.” Trump on Tuesday said he made the terrorist designation and issued the blockade because “America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets” in a Truth Social post.“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump further chided.

“It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before.”Trump’s latest steps came after the US military has killed 95 narcoterrorists trafficking drugs in the waters outside Venezuela in more than two dozen strikes since S...