A member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Ted Cruz, has alleged that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was earlier captured by U.S. forces, is a thug and a supporter of Islamist terrorists.
The lawmaker made the remarks in a statement following U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.
According to the senator, the Venezuelan regime led by the captured president “has for decades posed an acute threat to the national security” of the United States.
He said Maduro “himself was a corrupt dictator and thug who systematically oppressed the people of Venezuela and threatened America and our allies. Domestically, he was straightforwardly illegitimate.
“Internationally, he supported American enemies across the globe, Islamist terrorists, and narcoterrorists.
“Maduro facilitated, enabled, and profited from flooding the United States with drugs that injured and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
“Removing him from power will save countless lives and serve as a warning to all others targeting Americans.
“From the opening months of my time serving in the Senate, I have worked to counter Maduro’s threat to the American people, secure legitimate rule in Venezuela, and restore the country as an American ally within the Western Hemisphere.
“I applaud President Trump for his leadership, and I am deeply grateful to our servicemembers for their execution of this operation. Heidi and I are praying in thanks and for the quick and full recovery of our injured.”