Lawmakers on Capitol Hill question the capture of Nicolas Maduro

WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - The Trump Administration and many Congressional Republicans are defending Saturday's brazen U.S. military raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

However, not every lawmaker on Capitol Hill is convinced the mission was legal, and the debate continues in Washington a day after Maduro made his first appearance in a New York federal courtroom.

Fresh tensions in Venezuela as overnight, gunfire rang out in Caracas.

Two White House officials tell NBC News the administration is closely tracking the situation and the U.S. was not involved.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Venezuela's deposed authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to federal drug and weapons charges.

Maduro said, in a New York courtroom, that he's still the constitutional president of Venezuela, calling himself a prisoner of war.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defending the Trump Administration's move to capture and remove Maduro, accusing him of bringing tons of drugs into the U.S.

"This was well within the president's Article II powers. It was a law enforcement function to arrest indicted individuals in Venezuela," U.S. Attorney General Bondi shared.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. is now "in charge" in Venezuela, even as interim president, and Maduro loyalist, Delcy Rodriguez was formally sworn.

While in an exclusive interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, President Trump asserted the U.S. is at war with people that sell drugs, not with Venezuela, as Democrats slam the administration for acting without congressional approval.

"It was military action, not a law enforcement action," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Minority Leader.

Republican leadership defended the use of force after a classified briefing for the gang of eight top congressional leaders.

"The administration is acting consistent with the law, and that's what we discussed in the room," said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

President trump telling NBC News the U.S. may reimburse oil companies that help rebuild Venezuelan infrastructure, aiming for expanded oil operations within 18 months.

Venezuelan Interim President Rodriguez, who initially called Maduro's capture an illegal kidnapping, is now offering to collaborate with the Trump Administration.

However, her government has ordered police to arrest anyone involved in supporting this past weekend's U.S. attack that ousted Maduro.