The four members of Maine’s delegation in Congress reacted in strong terms Saturday after the United States launched a “large-scale strike” on the South American nation early that morning.

President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. In the U.S., they will face criminal charges in connection with a Justice Department indictment accusing them of a role in narco-terrorism conspiracy.

Trump also said Saturday that the U.S. will run Venezuela until a transition of power is completed.

Maine U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, and Jared Golden, R-2nd District, condemned the U.S. operation in Venezuela, with Pingree calling it “a breathtaking abuse of power” and “a flagrant violation of the Constitution and international law.”

In an emailed statement Saturday morning, Pingree said Maduro’s leadership was dangerous and deserves unequivocal international condemnation. Yet, she said, the president acted without the explicit authorization of Congress.

“Bypassing Congress in this way is a direct violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, and it sets a deeply alarming precedent for unchecked executive power in matters of war and peace,” the statement reads.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York. Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple would “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”

In a statement to the Press Herald on Saturday afternoon, Golden said that while he is “not shedding any tears” for Maduro and “Venezuela is better off without him,” Trump’s actions should not have happened without consultation of the people’s representatives.

“The constitution delegates war powers to Congress,” Golden wrote. “Given what we have seen from this administration, my fear is this scenario could easily devolve into quagmire and corruption. The president must advise Congress.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement that she was personally briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that “Congress should have been informed of the operation earlier.” She called Maduro a “ruthless dictator” who must be brought to justice.

U.S. Sen. Angus King echoed Collins’ view that Maduro is an illegitimate leader who must face consequences. But he said Saturday in a statement: “I’m very concerned about where this leads. Does this set a precedent that gives the President the sole authority to commit our nation to what can only be defined as war?

“Further, when the United States takes an action like this and baldly asserts the right to “run the country,” it invites similar acts of aggression by unfriendly regimes like China, North Korea, or Russia and robs us of the protections of the rules and norms of responsible international behavior.”

Pingree’s full statement:

The Trump Administration’s decision to apprehend and detain President Maduro is a breathtaking abuse of power, a flagrant violation of the Constitution and international law, and a dangerous escalation that undermines long-standing diplomatic norms. Just a few weeks ago, Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth told every U.S. Senator that their actions in the region—which were already legally dubious—had nothing to do with regime change. That was clearly a lie.

Make no mistake: Nicolás Maduro is a ruthless dictator who has repeatedly engaged in antidemocratic practices—including rigging the 2024 election, as has been reported by many international observers. His policies have led to economic collapse, widespread human rights abuses, and the displacement of millions of Venezuelans, creating a humanitarian crisis that has had a devastating impact across the international stage. Maduro’s dangerous leadership and destructive actions deserve unequivocal international condemnation.

But the President does not have the authority to carry out military or paramilitary actions, seize foreign leaders, or pursue regime change without the explicit authorization of Congress. No such authorization was sought or granted. Bypassing Congress in this way is a direct violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, and it sets a deeply alarming precedent for unchecked executive power in matters of war and peace.

This reckless move risks destabilizing an already fragile region, puts millions of civilians at risk, and further isolates us from our friends and allies. I will demand answers and accountability from this Administration, and work with my colleagues to ensure that no further unauthorized actions are taken without congressional approval.

Golden’s full statement:

Maduro is an adversary to the United States and an illegitimate leader. Venezuela is better off without his influence, and I’m not shedding any tears for him. But the Constitution delegates war powers to Congress, and this kind of action should not have happened without consultation of the people’s representatives.

President Trump now says the United States will ‘run’ Venezuela on an indefinite timeline, and alluded to the handover of Venezuelan oil assets to American corporations. Given what we have seen from this administration, my fear is this scenario could easily devolve into quagmire and corruption.

The president must advise Congress — as President George H.W. Bush did during the Panama operation that captured the dictator Noriega, about the administration’s plans going forward. This is a crucial moment not only for shaping America’s role in the region, but for the separation of powers and the rule of law. Congress must meet the moment.

Collins’ full statement:

Nicolas Maduro is a narco-terrorist and international drug trafficker who has been indicted twice in U.S. courts and who should stand trial in this country.

I was personally briefed by Secretary Rubio this morning. While there is still much we don’t know, this mission appears to have been a limited scope operation, run in conjunction with law enforcement, that effectively apprehended an international criminal.

Congress should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves. Maduro was a ruthless dictator who was not considered to be the legitimate leader of Venezuela by both the Biden and Trump administrations as well as by the European Union. The long-term success of today’s operation will depend on our ability to work with international and private sector partners.

King’s full statement:

Let me be very clear: Nicolas Maduro is and was a bad guy. No question. He was a dictator, the leader of a drug cartel, and an illegitimate leader who ignored the results of the most recent Venezuelan election and deserved to be brought to justice. However, doing the right thing can only be truly effective if you do it the right way.

When we look at today’s military operation, I also want to emphasize that our military is exceptional, and the skill and preparation that it showed was absolutely extraordinary. Having said that, I’m very concerned about where this leads. Does this set a precedent that gives the President the sole authority to commit our nation to what can only be defined as war? Further, when the United States takes an action like this and baldly asserts the right to “run the country,” it invites similar acts of aggression by unfriendly regimes like China, North Korea, or Russia and robs us of the protections of the rules and norms of responsible international behavior.

The Constitution lays out very clearly that Congress has the power to declare war. I know Congress has abdicated many of its powers in recent years, but I hope and plan on trying to return those fundamental duties back to the legislative branch as the founders designed.

The next few weeks will prove critical in answering these questions and assessing what could likely be a lasting shift in Latin American and global geopolitics. I intend to remain engaged with these critical questions through the conduct of the needed oversight in my roles on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees.