\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro was captured in a strike by U.S. forces in the South American country.The capture of the foreign leader comes after months of escalation from President Donald Trump against the nation, including more than a dozen strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats and a blockade on all “sanctioned oil tankers” going into and out of the country.U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Maduro was also indicted on “narco-terrorism” charges in 2020.In October, Trump said the U.S. was in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels after several strikes on boats in the Caribbean.Floridian lawmakers reacted to the overnight strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released a statement on President Maduro’s capture: “The capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, who oppressed Venezuela’s people is welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule. However, cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows. Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder. My hope is it offers a passage to true democracy and liberation. This action offers beleaguered Venezuelans a chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez. I\u2019ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort. The absence of congressional involvement prior to this action risks the continuation of the illegitimate Venezuelan regime.”Bondi shared the below indictment of Maduro and other Venezuelan officials on social media.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
In the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro was captured<\/a> in a strike by U.S. forces in the South American country.<\/p>\n The capture of the foreign leader comes after months of escalation<\/a> from President Donald Trump against the nation, including more than a dozen strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats and a blockade on all “sanctioned oil tankers<\/a>” going into and out of the country.<\/p>\n U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said<\/a> Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Maduro was also indicted<\/a> on “narco-terrorism” charges in 2020.<\/p>\n In October, Trump said<\/a> the U.S. was in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels after several strikes on boats in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n Floridian lawmakers reacted to the overnight strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro.<\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. Thank you, @POTUS<\/a>, @SecRubio<\/a>, @SecWar<\/a>, and the brave members of our military who led the operation that successfully CAPTURED narco-terrorist Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America. The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/VL4bnsbGVZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. Capturing the murderous Dictator Maduro is a major step towards a #VenezuelaLibre<\/a>. Now there must be concerted efforts to ensure the democratically elected Edmundo Gonzalez is seated as the rightful new president.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s failure to seek Congressional approval for these strikes\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/rIjcCCSGbH<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. The United States of America is safer today because of the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and the bravery and heroism of the American Military which again proved itself the best in the world. <\/p>\n Best news of the night: no American casualties, a narco-terrorist Dictator in\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/RijjbTHl8b<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. Maduro used foreign terrorist organizations to traffic deadly drugs and violence into our country, killing countless Americans.<\/p>\n He was one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.<\/p>\n This morning, he was captured. \u2014 Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), co-chair of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, released a statement<\/a> on President Maduro’s capture: “The capture of the brutal, illegitimate ruler of Venezuela, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, who oppressed Venezuela’s people is welcome news for my friends and neighbors who fled his violent, lawless, and disastrous rule. However, cutting off the head of a snake is fruitless if it just regrows. Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder. My hope is it offers a passage to true democracy and liberation. This action offers beleaguered Venezuelans a chance to seat their true, democratically elected president, Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez. I\u2019ll demand answers as to why Congress and the American people were bypassed in this effort. The absence of congressional involvement prior to this action risks the continuation of the illegitimate Venezuelan regime.”<\/p>\n
\n\tYou may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tYou may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tYou may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tYou may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.\n<\/p>\n
This is \u201cPeace Through\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/sgJksscixT<\/a><\/p>\n