Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked an effort by Democrats to stop continued U.S. military strikes on boats alleged to be carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela.
In a 48-51 vote, the Senate rejected a resolution led by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia. The measure, brought under the War Powers Act, would have prohibited the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities with “any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities” without explicit congressional authorization, CBS News reported.
“There has been no authorization to use force by Congress in this way,” Schiff said before the vote. “The strikes risk escalating into a full-blown conflict with Venezuela. I feel it is plainly unconstitutional.”
The Trump administration has confirmed conducting four strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats since Sept. 2, killing at least 21 people. Officials say the strikes targeted vessels linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, and El Salvador’s MS-13, which the administration designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
