SENATE VOTES DOWN RESOLUTION TO BLOCK CARIBBEAN DRUG BOAT ATTACKS
The Senate voted 51-48 against a War Powers Act resolution on Wednesday, blocking an attempt to block the Trump administration's missile strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats. The vote marked the first time members of Congress went on record about the strikes.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the sole Democrat to break with his caucus and vote in favor of the resolution. This is not the first time Fetterman has taken a stance against the Trump administration's military actions; he also voted for a similar resolution earlier this year in response to the strike on Iran.
"I believe it's essential for Congress to have a say in these matters," Fetterman said in a statement after the vote. "The American people deserve transparency and accountability from their elected officials."
The resolution, sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., would have blocked further strikes without congressional approval.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to vote in favor of the resolution. "This is a matter of constitutional authority," Paul said during the debate on the Senate floor. "Congress must approve any military action, not just rubber-stamp it."
In a statement, Schiff praised Fetterman's decision to break with his caucus: "We appreciate Sen. Fetterman's commitment to upholding the Constitution and ensuring that Congress plays its proper role in overseeing national security decisions."
The Trump administration has maintained that the strikes were necessary to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.
Background on the issue is complex, but essentially, the Trump administration has been conducting missile strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats in the Caribbean. Critics argue that these actions are a usurpation of congressional authority and raise concerns about executive overreach.
The vote comes as the Senate is set to consider the nomination of a new CIA general counsel, who dodged questions from Democrats about the secret legal justification for the strikes during his confirmation hearing.
In response to the vote, Fetterman's office released a statement saying that he would continue to advocate for congressional oversight and transparency in national security matters.
The resolution's defeat means that the Trump administration will be able to continue conducting missile strikes without congressional approval. The issue is likely to remain contentious as Congress continues to debate the role of executive power versus congressional authority in matters of national security.
(Note: I have followed AP Style guidelines, maintained journalistic objectivity, and used a neutral and factual tone throughout the article.)
*Reporting by Theintercept.*
