Following All-Senators Classified Briefing, Durbin Raised Unanswered Questions About The U.S.’S Next Steps Regarding Venezuela; Urged The Administration To Be Honest With The American People

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today following the classified briefing with Administration officials on the actions they have taken in Venezuela—including capturing Nicolás Maduro.
“It’s a heady experience to go through a classified briefing at the highest levels of our government, and virtually every United States Senator of both political parties had the opportunity this morning. I took advantage of it. It’s rare and important. It was an explanation by our leaders in the Cabinet and the Administration of what happened in Venezuela just a few days ago when Mr. Maduro was removed from power and brought to the United States to be held accountable for his actions in narcotics terrorism. This is not a new issue to me,”said Durbin.
In April 2018, Durbintraveled to Venezuela, where he met with then-National Assembly Member Juan Guaidó as well as President Nicolás Maduro, warning him that pursuing a sham election the following month would further isolate his autocratic regime. In July 2024, DurbincondemnedNicolás Maduro for falsely claiming that the nation’s election was called in his favor, despite meticulously documented election results by observers demonstrating overwhelming support for opposition candidate Edmundo González. Hereiterated these commentsin an additional speech on the Senate floor in September 2024.
“It was clear to me that Venezuela was in trouble. You could see it in the streets. People were literally starving. Hospitals were going without medicine, and it was pretty clear to me that Maduro was ruling not by democratic appeal but by force of his power in office. He was facing an election in just a few weeks, and I told him at that time that if he did not have international observers at his election to verify that it was an honest election, the world would not believe the results. He ignored my advice, which was no surprise. He went ahead with the election… and he claimed victory that others say did not happen,”said Durbin.“So, this decision to remove him is not one that causes tears in my household. We believe he was unfit for office. He was defeated in the election, and he had to pay a price for it. I’m glad he is not in power today.”
“During the course of our briefing this morning, our military leaders and others spelled out the details of how he was physically removed from office just a few days ago. He still is going to be held accountable in the courts of law of the United States. That’s for sure. But there is also discussion about where we go from here. If you remove the president of a country, what happens next?”Durbin said.
“I understand why our Administration was very careful in disclosing information about the removal of Maduro from office. The lives and futures of the men and women in uniform from the United States were on the line, and we should not compromise their safety in any way to achieve our goal. But there comes a point, and that point should be immediately, where this Administration decides to trust the American people and tell them the whole story. I believe there are things that can be said which will not compromise the safety of the United States or our friends but explain to the American people what is at stake here. What happened in that raid that removed Maduro from office? Most of the details are an amazing display of military superiority, which the United States enjoys, but there were other questions that were raised, too, during the course of this. In addition, the question that was raised is where do we go from here? What is going to happen to Venezuela’s future? What is our responsibility?”Durbin continued.
During his remarks, Durbin reflected on his time in the Senate—where he saw the U.S. become involved in various wars in the Middle East.
“Many times, we blundered into a situation that looks simple in nation-building, but turned out to be complex, and the war went on for years and years and years at the expense of not only the American taxpayers but, more importantly, American lives,”said Durbin.
Durbin also noted that the Constitution explicitly states that the power to declare war in the United States resides in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia asked a question, and I think it was the right question: When are we going to trust the American people enough to tell them exactly what happened in Venezuela leading up to the removal of Maduro and what is likely to follow? It’s an important, critical question. It’s going to be costly in terms of the future of the United States of America if we are not explicit and honest with the people of this country. Now is the time for that honesty,”Durbin concluded.
In September 2024, Durbinmetwith five Latin American democracies’ ambassadors to discuss the electoral crisis in Venezuela. In January 2025, Durbinreintroduced a billterminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the recent Venezuelan election are respected. And in May 2025, Durbinmetvirtually with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.
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