Matt Ortega, Democratic candidate for California’s 14th Congressional District, issued the following statement on the illegal strike against Venezuela:

The president’s imperialist actions in Venezuela are illegal under U.S. and international law. It is in violation of his constitutional oath of office and the Charter of the United Nations.

The Congress has not authorized this. No international authority has authorized this. The people of California’s 14th Congressional District do not support this.

The rationale is an afterthought to the explicitly stated goal of colonial seizure of Venezuela’s oil.

It’s a repeat of one of the worst acts of our history in the hemisphere. A destabilizing move that could plunge the country into bloody chaos. American troops sent into combat for resource extraction. The bomb craters have yet to cease billowing smoke and already Wall Street and industry are moving in to take advantage.

Congress must act now. Put a stop to this illegal adventurism in Latin America. It will get out of control if they do not. These must include:

• War Powers resolution to block further operations without congressional approval
• Congressional prohibition on U.S. industry from operating in Venezuela
• Impeachment and removal of the President of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe for this and other offenses

This administration is a national security threat to the United States and a rogue international actor. It respects no law and no authority but its own.