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The Briefing: How Capitol Hill reacted to news of Nicolás Maduro’s capture
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It is the perpetual question in Congress.
Was the Speaker briefed?
When will they give you a briefing?
I don’t know anything about that, because I haven’t been briefed yet.
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The capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro stirred up quite the dialogue on Capitol Hill. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
A Congressional «briefing» is supposed to shed light on unanswered questions.
And the questions are legion after the U.S. military mission to extract Nicolás Maduro from Caracas.
That initial «briefing» unfolded Monday night at the Capitol. Granted, not for every lawmaker. But the bipartisan House and Senate leadership, top members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, leaders of the Armed Services Committees, and the chairs and ranking members of the Foreign Affairs/Foreign Relations Committees. Democrats seethed that the White House did not notify Congress in advance of the operation. Granted, «notification» is different from a briefing. And it’s a far cry from Congress voting to authorize or suspend an operation under its Article I «war powers.» Democrats — and some Republicans — contend that only Congress can bless an operation like the one in Venezuela. But regardless, both sides wanted to know what comes next.
It’s all in the eye of the beholder.
«This is a military operation. We all know that,» said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, on CNN.
«This was not an act of war or an invasion. This was the lawful apprehension of a fugitive from justice,» countered Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., on Fox.
SCHUMER BLASTED TRUMP FOR FAILING TO OUST MADURO — NOW WARNS ARREST COULD LEAD TO ‘ENDLESS WAR’
Most Democrats say the administration violated the Constitution, dispatching U.S. forces abroad without Congressional permission.
«The President literally dropped into a sovereign nation, executed on this warrant, pulled the leader out with no plan for the next day,» said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Penn., on CNN.
Some lawmakers fretted about President Trump’s future intentions and wondered if Venezuela was just a precursor.
«Now he’s doubling down on this reckless policy,» said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on MS fNOW. «He’s thinking about Colombia and thinking about Cuba and Greenland. I mean, the average American is going to say, ‘What is going on in the White House?’»
But at least one Democrat broke with some of his colleagues.
«This wasn’t a war. This wasn’t boots on grounds and in that kind of a way. This was surgical and very efficient. And I want to celebrate our military,» said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., on Fox.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., called the operation «surgical and efficient» while bestowing praise upon the military. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
At this briefing, lawmakers heard from Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Democrats questioned what the administration told them in previous briefings.
«Marco Rubio personally, explicitly lied to me,» charged Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., on CNN. «We asked over and over, ‘What is the larger plan? Is there an effort at regime change being planned?’»
However, most Republicans dismissed Democrats’ concerns and extolled the success of the mission.
«This is one of the most complicated and exquisite military operations that has ever been conducted in the history of warfare,» said Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., a former Navy SEAL, on Fox. «This is the stuff that legends are made of.»
«If President Trump won the battle against cancer and cured cancer, the Democrats would take the side of cancer,» said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. «It’s insane.»
FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP’S VENEZUELA MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST CRITICISM FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS
The calendar flipped to 2026. It’s a midterm year. And Democrats are already trying to use Venezuela against Republicans. Democrats believe the GOP’s focus on the Caribbean and South America gives them a political opening as they focus on pocket book issues.
«The American people did not sign up for this kind of military adventurism when they voted for Donald Trump. They wanted a president focused on America first. Focused on lowering the cost of living. Lowering health care costs. Lowering grocery prices,» said Schumer.
Democrats are now looking for parliamentary methods to impede potential future maneuvers – in Venezuela. Or perhaps elsewhere.
«The reality is that to fund these operations, to fund nation-building, they need the approval of Congress,» said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., on CNN.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the operation «military adventurism» that «the American people did not sign up for.» (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Most funding for the federal government expires in a little more than three weeks. That includes separate bills to fund the Pentagon and the State Department. Few want a government shutdown. In fact, work on other spending bills has gone quite well. Expect a vote on a mini-spending package later this week. But military and foreign operations spending bills are among the nine measures left incomplete ahead of this next funding round.
The ultimate power in Congress is that of the purse. It’s possible Democrats — and some Republicans who are skeptical of what the U.S. is doing in Venezuela — could limit or cut off funds for any operations there.
Lawmakers will question what’s needed from the military or diplomats. All of that involves money from Capitol Hill. There’s uncertainty about what the endgame is.
«I don’t know what ‘run the country’ means,» said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. «I would think that the United States does not want to be somebody running another country. Even in an interim.»
TRUMP VOWS US WILL ‘RUN’ VENEZUELA UNTIL ‘SAFE’ TRANSITION OF POWER
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, represents a battleground district in eastern Iowa. She won in 2020 by six votes and by 967 votes in 2024.
«We don’t want to have troops on the ground. Iowans don’t want that. We do not want nation building,» said Miller-Meeks on Fox. «We’ve got enough problems to clear up.»
If lawmakers don’t like what they’re hearing, they could make the Defense Appropriations bill and the State/Foreign Operations measure tricky to pass. And, if Congress limits such funds, any continued operations in Venezuela must cease under the law.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is pushing a vote later this week on a war powers resolution. If approved, it would mandate Congressional approval for future interventions. Only GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., joined Democrats in voting yes on a similar resolution last fall.
So this was the first briefing. Other briefings will soon follow about the future of Venezuela. Likely for months if not years. South America and the Caribbean are the latest frontier to follow on the global stage.
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But questions — and answers — will circulate through Capitol Hill. And it will hinge on whether or not lawmakers are «briefed.»
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El abogado de la premio Nobel de la Paz Narges Mohammadi denunció el “traslado forzoso” y agresiones contra la activista
La Premio Nobel de la Paz iraní Narges Mohammadi fue trasladada de manera irregular desde el centro de detención de seguridad de Mashad a otra ciudad, según denunció su abogado, Mostafa Nili, quien también reportó agresiones contra la activista.
El letrado señaló que el martes de la semana pasada, a las 4 de la madrugada, Mohammadi fue sacada del centro de detención de Mashad, cuidad al este de Teherán. Aunque le informaron que sería llevada a la capital del país, esa misma tarde fue trasladada a la prisión de Zanjan, en el noroeste del país.
Nili indicó que el “traslado forzoso” contraviene las leyes vigentes, incluida la Ley de Procedimiento Penal, y que se enteró de la situación por una llamada telefónica de la propia Mohammadi.
Durante la conversación, la activista denunció agresiones durante su arresto e interrogatorios, incluyendo golpes en la cabeza que le provocaron mareos y visión borrosa.
“Las marcas de moretones y los fuertes golpes infligidos en su cuerpo aún permanecen”, advirtió Nili, quien alertó sobre los “graves riesgos” para la salud de Mohammadi si continúa detenida, ya que fue liberada en diciembre de 2024 precisamente por problemas de salud.
Mohammadi fue arrestada de manera violenta el 12 de diciembre junto a otros activistas en una ceremonia fúnebre en Mashad. La semana pasada fue condenada a siete años y medio de prisión por cargos de conspiración y propaganda contra el régimen iraní, en la décima sentencia en su contra desde 2021.
Su marido, Taghi Rahmani, advirtió sobre el deterioro de su salud y recordó que fue hospitalizada tras realizar una huelga de hambre de seis días.
La sentencia se produjo tras las protestas que sacudieron Irán en diciembre y enero, originadas por la caída del rial y que derivaron en manifestaciones contra la República Islámica, sofocadas por una brutal represión de la Guardia Revolucionaria.
El régimen de Irán reconoce 3.117 muertes en ese contexto, mientras la ONG opositora HRANA, con sede en Estados Unidos, sitúa la cifra en 7.010 y continúa verificando más de 11.700 posibles fallecimientos, además de 53.800 arrestos.
Mohammadi, galardonada con el Nobel de la Paz en 2023, fue arrestada en trece ocasiones y condenada en diez, aunque siguió denunciando violaciones de derechos humanos en Irán, incluidas la pena de muerte y la violencia contra las mujeres que no usan el velo islámico.
Desde el ámbito internacional, el Comité Noruego del Nobel pidió la liberación inmediata de la activista iraní el miércoles pasado. La defensora de los derechos de las mujeres de 53 años lleva tres décadas luchando por los derechos civiles frente al régimen.
“El Comité está horrorizado por estos actos y reitera que el encarcelamiento de Mohammadi es arbitrario e injusto. Su único ‘delito’ es el ejercicio pacífico de sus derechos fundamentales —libertad de expresión, asociación y reunión— en defensa de la igualdad de la mujer y la dignidad humana”, señaló el Comité.
La institución realizó un “llamamiento urgente” a las autoridades iraníes para que liberen a Mohammadi “de manera inmediata e incondicional” y le brinden acceso a “atención médica independiente y profesional”. Además, instó a Teherán a liberar a todos los presos políticos y de conciencia detenidos por ejercer sus derechos legítimos.
Por su parte, el Servicio de Acción Exterior de la Unión Europea (UE) señaló que los cargos contra Narges Mohammadi derivan exclusivamente de sus actividades pacíficas en defensa de los derechos humanos. La declaración oficial subrayó que la activista debería poder expresarse y ejercer su labor legítima sin enfrentar riesgos de encarcelamiento o represalias.
El bloque europeo pidió a las autoridades iraníes su liberación inmediata e incondicional, y remarcó la gravedad de su estado de salud, recordando las obligaciones legales internacionales de Irán.
Según los tratados internacionales suscritos por la República Islámica, incluido el Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos, Irán tiene la responsabilidad legal de garantizar la libertad de expresión, asociación y reunión pacífica. La UE instó también a la liberación de todas las personas detenidas por ejercer estos derechos, incluidas aquellas arrestadas durante las recientes protestas.
El comunicado de la UE exhortó a las autoridades iraníes a respetar el debido proceso y a garantizar juicios justos para todos los afectados.
(Con infomración de EFE)
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Familiares de presos políticos inician huelga de hambre en Venezuela: la esposa de Nahuel Gallo le reclamó su libertad a Delcy Rodríguez
Molestos por la decisión del Parlamento de Venezuela de prorrogar una semana más el tratamiento de la Ley de Amnistía para terminar de liberar a los presos políticos del régimen de Nicolás Maduro, familiares de los detenidos iniciaron sábado una huelga de hambre en Caracas para reclamar más excarcelaciones.
Si bien durante la madrugada fueron excarcelados 17 presos políticos de los calabozos de la Policía Nacional, un grupo de diez familiares decidió llevar adelante la protesta luego de que no se cumplieran los plazos anunciados por la gestión de la presidenta interina, Delcy Rodríguez.
Es que su hermano, el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional, Jorge Rodríguez, había dicho a principios de febrero que en la semana que pasó iban a ser liberados «todos los presos políticos».
En Caracas, diez mujeres usando tapabocas se acostaron en línea con la lista de sus nombres escrita a mano en la entrada de Zona 7, donde acampan familias desde hace más de un mes, para pedir celeridad en la salida de prisión de sus familiares como parte de un proceso de liberaciones que la presidenta encargada Delcy Rodríguez anunció el 8 de enero, bajo fuertes presiones de Washington.
En medio de esa protesta, la presidenta Rodríguez usó la red social X para felicitar a un equipo de beisbol, el deporte más popular del país, por un triunfo en un partido de anoche en Caracas. Y, ese posteo, fue aprovechado desde Argentina por la esposa de Nahuel Gallo para reiterar su reclamo por su liberación.
Libertad para Nahuel Agustín Gallo, 433 días lo han tenido en Desaparición Forzada en el Rodeo 1. BASTA dejen de fingir que no pasa nada.
— Maria alexandra Gomez (@gg_alexand95764) February 14, 2026
La venezolana María Alexandra Gómez, quien reclama la liberación de su marido, un gendarme catamarqueño que fue atrapado hace dos años cuando ingresó al país para visitar a su familia durante las Fiestas de Fin de Año, le estampó como respuesta a la funcionaria su pedido y le recordó que desde hace «433 días lo han tenido en Desaparición Forzada en el Rodeo 1″.
«BASTA dejen de fingir que no pasa nada», cerró su mensaje Gómez desde Buenos Aires, donde espera junto a su hijo el regreso de Gallo.
En tanto, los familiares de otros presos políticos que comparten su reclamo en Caracas explicaron que con la huelga de hambre que iniciaron hoy exigen «que ya se concrete y sea real la liberación de todos». «Es justo, es justo. Ya tenemos muchísimo tiempo en esto», dijo a la agencia AFP Evelin Quiaro, 46 años, madre de uno de los detenidos y funcionaria del servicio de migración.
Su hijo de 30 años está detenido desde noviembre de 2025, acusado de terrorismo, asociación para delinquir y financiamiento al terrorismo.
Entre los excarcelados este sábado se encuentra José Elías Torres, secretario general de la Confederación de Trabajadores de Venezuela (CTV), preso desde noviembre sin orden judicial, informó en X el Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos.
Desde que el 3 de enero Nicolás Maduro fue sacado del país por una intervención militar estadounidense, Delcy Rodríguez actúa como presidenta a cargo y propuso una ley de amnistía el 30 de enero.
Pero, en el Parlamento local la discusión final para su aprobación se ha aplazado dos veces. La última fue el jueves cuando se dispuso posponer la discusión una semana más para que los diputados se pongan de acuerdo si abarcará los 27 años del chavismo o si estará acotada a un período determinado. La próxima sesión está prevista para el jueves 19 de febrero.
Rodríguez, quien era vicepresidenta de Maduro, asumió funciones de forma temporal y en las últimas semanas llevó adelante una agenda de acuerdos petroleros y excarcelaciones de presos políticos, al tiempo que ha dado un vuelco en la relación con Estados Unidos, rota desde 2019.
De acuerdo con la ONG Foro Penal, desde el 8 de enero 431 presos políticos han obtenido libertad condicional y 644 permanecen aún en prisión.
«Lo que estamos pidiendo con esto es que ya sean liberados todos, como se nos prometió», indica por su parte otra huelguista, Sachare Torrez, de 23 años.
Con información de agencias
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Catholics, conservatives cheer ouster of ex-Miss California from WH religious panel after hijacking hearing
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The Trump administration swiftly removed Carrie Prejen Boller, a former Miss California winner, from a White House religious council amid accusations she worked to «hijack» a hearing on antisemitism, earning applause from religious leaders and conservatives.
«Carrie Prejean was thrown off the Religious Liberty Commission, and thank God,» a former Trump White House official told Fox News Digital in reaction to the ouster. «These commissions exist to advance the President’s agenda, not to serve as a personal Jew-hating platform.»
Prejean Boller was ousted from the White House Religious Liberty Commission after she worked to «hijack a hearing» held Monday regarding antisemitism in the U.S. to promote her «own personal and political agenda on any issue,» according to chair of the commission, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Prejean Boller is the 2009 Miss California USA winner who was stripped of her crown over allegations of breaching contract. She gained nationwide attention in 2009 for speaking out against legalizing gay marriage from the pageant’s stage.
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Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization at the time and defended Prejean Boller, then Carrie Prejean.
Carrie Prejean Boller was removed from a White House religious council amid accusations she «hijacked» a hearing on antisemitism. (Steve Marcus/Reuters)
Trump established the religious liberty commission in May via an executive order directing the Department of Justice to provide support to the newly formed body focused on upholding «Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.»
The commission held a hearing Monday at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., on combating antisemitism and upholding religious freedom, where Prejean Boller wore a Palestinian flag pin and got into tense exchanges.
Prejean Boller converted to Catholicism from evangelical Christianity in April and invoked her Catholic faith in comments rejecting Zionism during the hearing.
TARGETED FOR THEIR FAITH OVERSEAS, PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS GET A WHITE HOUSE WELCOME UNDER TRUMP
«I am a Catholic, and Catholics don’t embrace Zionism,» she said.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue swiftly called for her ouster in an opinion piece published on his organization’s website, underscoring that she did not represent Catholics in her remarks.
«Prejean Boller is a former Miss California and a convert to Catholicism,» he wrote Wednesday. «She does not run a Catholic organization, has no Catholic credentials as an author or instructor, and indeed represents no one but herself. For her to say, without qualification, that ‘Catholics do not embrace Zionism,’ is presumptuous and arrogant.»
«Zionism is a movement that promotes Jewish self-determination in a homeland,» he said. «There are millions of Catholics like myself who, even if they do not identify themselves as Zionists, recognize the Jewish state of Israel. Prejean Boller apparently does not—she is more comfortable showing up at the Religious Liberty Commission wearing a Palestinian flag pin. So telling.»
Shawn Carney, president and CEO of 40 Days for Life pro-life group, added in comment to Fox Digital that her «claim that Catholics are against Jews is absurd.»
«This division is a recent fad and an online invention,» Carney said. «For centuries, Catholics have understood that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Davidic kingdom and that our faith comes from the Jews. Catholic teaching holds that the Church is the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Covenant. To suddenly claim that Catholics are against Jews is absurd — it is a modern, internet-based error.»
He added that Trump has a very strong track record of hiring and appointing Catholics to his administration, noting «no president in modern history has done more to protect religious liberty for both Catholics and Jews.»
US President Donald Trump bows his head in prayer during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC on February 5, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
At one point, Prejean Boller got into a heated exchange with Shabbos Kestenbaum, a former Harvard student who sued the university over its response to antisemitism.
«Are you willing to condemn what Israel has done in Gaza?» Prejean Boller asked Kestenbaum during the hearing. «You won’t condemn that? Just on the record.»
She also defended Candace Owens when pressed by Babylon Bee Founder and CEO Seth Dillon if the commentator had ever made antisemitic remarks.
«Do you think anything Candace has said is antisemitic?» he asked her, after referring to Owens as one of the «most famous antisemites» in the current political landscape.
«No, I don’t,» Prejean Boller replied.
Donald Trump, when he was the owner of the Miss Universe Organization, poses with Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean on May 12, 2009. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)
The former Trump White House official continued in comment to Fox Digital that backing Israel has long been a priority for President Donald Trump.
«President Donald Trump has been clear for decades that he stands proudly with the Jewish people and with America’s closest ally, Israel,» the former official said. «Supporting Israel and standing with Jewish Americans is not just morally right, it is America First.»
TRUMP SAYS GOP, MAGA MOVEMENT DOESN’T NEED, DISLIKES PEOPLE WITH ANTISEMITIC VIEWS
«President Trump delivered historic victories for the Jewish people. He recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the U.S. Embassy there. He recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He brokered the Abraham Accords and reshaped the Middle East. He kept his promise to bring every last hostage home and made clear that antisemitism at home will be confronted head on, including holding universities accountable when Jewish students are targeted.»
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz criticized Carrie Prejean Boller for her remarks at a hearing on antisemitism on Feb. 9, 2026. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Conservatives and others on social media celebrated her ouster while condemning her remarks at the hearing.
«The only one who brought up Zionism at the event was … Carrie Prejean Boller,» account Bonchie posted. «Classic grifter play happening here. Cause a scene of her own making, claim to be the victim, profit. A story as old as time.»
«Whatever you think of the rest of Carrie Prejean Boller’s views, wearing a Palestinian flag to a hearing on religious liberty is disgraceful,» president of WorldStrat information warfare firm and chief editor of the Middle East Forum Jim Hanson posted.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said that while he does not personally know Prejean Boller, what he saw of her actions was «just sad.»
«There are 57 Muslim countries on earth; this poor thing has been deluded into thinking that the fact that Israel exists — in the promised land given to the Jewish people thousands of years ago by Jehovah — is somehow the source of all her troubles.» he wrote. «And no, Catholics don’t hate Israel. As Charlie Kirk said repeatedly, antisemitism is a brain rot, and someone has been pouring this poison into her head.»
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Patrick said he personally made the decision to remove her, while Prejean Boller responded on X that only the president could order her removal.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick serves as the chair of the White House Religious Liberty Commission. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle)
«You did not appoint me to the Commission, and you lack authority to remove me from it,» Prejean Boller wrote on X in response to Patrick. «This is a gross overstepping of your role and leads me to believe you are acting in alignment with a Zionist political framework that hijacked the hearing, rather than in defense of religious liberty.»
Cruz shot back on X: «Let’s be clear: it was President Trump who fired her.»
The former Miss California has continued to stick by her remarks, saying she «will never bend the knee to the state of Israel. Ever.»
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«Christians have been manipulated into believing that God blesses bombing, starvation, and mass killing,» Prejean posted to X. «That is the opposite of Christ, who came to stand with the suffering and confront power. I reject that lie completely. I am not owned by money, donors, or access. I belong to Christ alone who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I would rather die than bend the knee to Israel.»
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment on the matter Thursday, and attempted to reach Prejean Boller Friday for comment.
white house,donald trump,religion,israel,christianity,roman catholic
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