House subcommittee debates legality of U.S. operation that captured Nicolas Maduro

Chairman Van Drew, chair of the subcommittee, opened a hearing that examined the legal authority and national-security rationale the administration used to justify Operation Absolute Resolve and related strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels. "The president serves as the commander in chief and as the chief executive responsible for faithfully executing the laws of The United States," Van Drew said in his opening remarks, framing the operation as a law-enforcement action to apprehend an indicted narcoterrorist.

The hearing brought into relief two competing legal narratives. Professor Josh Blackman, a constitutional-law scholar, told the panel that the capture must be read in context with prior actions — an unsealed 2020 indictment, terrorism designations and sanctions in 2025, and a now-released Office of Legal Counsel opinion — and argued that the political branches, including the president, retain primary authority over…