The capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro was « not just about drugs, » U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in her first interview about the military operation on « Hannity » Monday.
Maduro and other defendants could face charges in other places, Bondi said.
« Nothing is off the table, » Bondi told Fox News host Sean Hannity. « These people must remain behind bars. They are responsible for the loss of so many lives, and these aren’t street-level drug dealers. They are narco-traffickers. »
On Monday, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and other charges in federal court.
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The Justice Department says Maduro provided « Venezuelan diplomatic passports to drug traffickers and facilitated diplomatic cover for planes used by money launderers to repatriate drug proceeds from Mexico to Venezuela. »
A man who had a brief exchange with Maduro in the Manhattan court told Fox News the dictator declared himself a « prisoner of war » and compared himself to Jesus.
« I am innocent, I am not guilty, » Maduro told the court. « I am a decent man. I am still president of my country. »
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Some Democrats have criticized the military operation as a violation of state sovereignty, comparing it to former President George W. Bush’s actions in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Bondi insisted « Operation Absolute Resolve » was « well within » President Donald Trump’s constitutional authority in response to critics.
« It was a law enforcement function to arrest indicted individuals in Venezuela, » Bondi explained. « Our military pulled off a flawless, flawless execution of that. »
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She went on to stress Saturday’s covert operation « saved countless lives. »
« The president saved thousands, countless lives tonight, » Bondi said. « But he also protected Americans from the TDA [Tren de Aragua] members who Maduro let into our country, forced into our country. »
The attorney general listed several murder victims of Venezuelan gang members, including 22-year-old Laken Riley and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
« It’s horrific and it is going to stop, » she vowed.
While Trump has said the U.S. will temporarily « run » Venezuela, Maduro’s allies in the government have contested the claim.
The Venezuelan dictator and his wife are set to appear in court again March 17.
Source link : https://www.foxnews.com/media/bondi-says-trump-saved-countless-lives-venezuelan-dictator-maduro-capture-operation
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Publish date : 2026-01-06 04:03:00
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