Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of using the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to divert attention from domestic political controversies, including renewed focus on files linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Several Democratic lawmakers said the timing of the operation appeared designed to shift the public debate as Congress prepares to return, with issues such as healthcare costs, the January 6 Capitol riot anniversary and the Epstein files expected to draw scrutiny.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris criticised the operation, saying it would not make the United States safer and warning against what she described as foreign interventions framed as strength but driven by political or economic interests. While acknowledging that Maduro is an illegitimate and brutal leader, she said the action was “unlawful and unwise”.
Representative Marilyn Strickland of Washington state said the operation served as a major distraction. Speaking on U.S. television, she argued that attention was being pulled away from topics Democrats plan to raise in Congress, including the Epstein files and rising healthcare premiums. She also suggested President Trump was motivated by access to Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made similar claims, saying the operation was about oil and regime change rather than justice. In a social media post, she said the focus on Maduro was being used to deflect attention from the Epstein case and economic pressures facing American families.
The Trump administration has rejected claims that the operation was a distraction. Officials say the mission was a law enforcement action aimed at arresting individuals already under U.S. indictment and bringing them to trial. They argue that the timing was driven by operational factors rather than domestic politics.
Critics of the Democratic response point out that the United States has pursued Maduro for years. In January 2025, shortly before leaving office, the Biden administration raised the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $25 million, citing narcotics trafficking charges announced in 2020.
Despite the political dispute, legal experts say courts are likely to focus on existing precedent that allows U.S. presidents to authorise the capture of foreign leaders accused of serious crimes. The wider debate over Epstein-related disclosures and foreign policy motives is expected to continue as Congress resumes work.
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