Local lawmakers in Yuma County react to U.S. striking Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro’s capture
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Local lawmakers across Yuma County are sharing their reaction to to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro following a large-scale strike against the country over the weekend.
The Pentagon says President Donald Trump gave the order to arrest President Maduro just before 11:00 a.m. Friday.
Troops from 20 military bases and 150 U.S. aircraft took part in the mission, which saw an elite strike force arrive at President Maduro's compound around 1:00 a.m. Saturday.
After arriving in New York Saturday night, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York courtroom Monday where they both pleaded not guilty.
In a post to X Saturday, Arizona State Rep. Nick Kupper (R-District 25) said, "I think that this will likely be a net benefit for the people of Venezuela & the people of America. However, I'm not sure it was carried out in the most ethical way. I would rather we do things the right way to get the correct result, rather than just do things the way we want."
Xanthe Bullard, Chair of the Yuma County Democratic Party, released a statement Saturday regarding the Venezuela strikes and Maduro's arrest. To read the statement in full, see attached file.
Arizona State Sen. Brian Fernandez (D-District 23) says he's not completely against it, but does not agree with the way it was done.
"I think that the problematic part of this is not seeking congressional approval, this is something that there are consequences to this, and I think that the president should have taken those consequences into account," Sen. Fernandez expressed.
Meanwhile, Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines is fully on board, saying Maduro had it coming.
"I appreciate President Trump following up on that it has been reported that he was manufacturing narcotics for the United States and we could see those trucks, I mean those boats full of narcotics that were being taken out," Lines explained.
