Senate Republicans block Venezuela conflict powers decision : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6131x4090+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fd3%2F9f1999f646bab552ad29d0a219a7%2Fgettyimages-2256320713.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6131x4090+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fd3%2F9f1999f646bab552ad29d0a219a7%2Fgettyimages-2256320713.jpg" class="img" alt="Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., talks to reporters as he heads to a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Hawley reversed his initial support for a Venezuela war powers resolution and voted to block the legislation after receiving assurances from the White House." fetchpriority="high"/> Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., talks to reporters as he heads to a vote on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Hawley reversed his preliminary assist for a Venezuela conflict powers decision and voted to dam the laws after receiving assurances from the White Home. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures Republicans within the Senate have blocked a conflict powers decision that may have required President Trump to safe authorization from Congress earlier than launching any additional army operations in Venezuela.

The decision's defeat got here lower than per week after 5 Republicans broke ranks with their occasion and joined Democrats on a procedural vote to advance the measure -- a uncommon rebuke for President Trump from throughout the GOP. The preliminary vote was a direct response to the shock operation earlier this month that led to the U.S. seize of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

These votes drew a livid response from President Trump, who known as for the Republican defectors to lose their seats in Congress.

By Wednesday, Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., was capable of flip two of these 5 Republican votes in opposition to the measure. The ultimate vote was 51 to 50, with Vice President JD Vance introduced in to interrupt a tie.

The decision was blocked with the assist of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Todd Younger, R-Ind., two of the 5 Republicans who had sided earlier with Democrats. Talking to reporters, Hawley mentioned his considerations about U.S. intervention in Venezuela had been alleviated by talking with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. For his half, Younger mentioned he modified his thoughts after receiving assurances from senior nationwide safety officers "that there are not any American troops in Venezuela."

"I've additionally obtained a dedication that if President Trump have been to find out American forces are wanted in main army operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress prematurely to ask for an authorization of drive," Younger mentioned in a press release.

The positions of the three different Republicans who sided with Democrats on final week's vote — Maine's Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — went unchanged.

"Republicans needs to be ashamed of the Senators that simply voted with Democrats in making an attempt to remove our Powers to battle and defend the US of America," Trump wrote after final week's vote.

The vote was the most recent setback in efforts by Senate lawmakers to reassert management over the usage of army drive. A pair of comparable measures have been additionally defeated final yr. However as President Trump continues to lift the prospect of army drive in different components of the world, together with Iran and Greenland, Senate Democrats have signaled they intend to proceed forcing extra conflict powers votes.