Washington DC [US], January 6 (ANI): US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday stated that the capture of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is “not just about drugs,” emphasizing that broader criminal accountability remains possible and that “nothing is off the table” regarding additional charges.
Speaking to Fox News in her first interview following Washington’s military operation in Caracas, Bondi defended the legality of the operation and rejected criticism that President Donald Trump acted without congressional approval. She described the action as a law-enforcement function to arrest indicted individuals in Venezuela.
Bondi outlined serious allegations against Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, including directing murders, kidnappings, and assaults against those who opposed their operations or attempted to interfere with their alleged drug trafficking activities. She asserted that the operation has saved “thousands of lives” affected by the drug trade.
“This was well within the President’s Article II powers. It was a law-enforcement function to arrest indicted individuals in Venezuela. Our military pulled off a flawless execution of that operation. America and the Western Hemisphere are safer tonight,” Bondi said.
She added, “The charges: Maduro and his wife were charged with directing the murders, kidnappings, and assaults of anybody who stood in their way and anybody who tried to stop their drug business. They are also charged with bringing tonnes of drugs into this country… This is not just about drugs. The President has saved thousands of lives from the drug trade.”
On Saturday, Washington carried out a “large-scale strike against Venezuela,” resulting in the capture of Maduro and Flores in Caracas. They were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving US intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Trump stated that both have been indicted on alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York and will face trial.
According to Bondi, Maduro and the other accused are currently in the custody of the Southern District of New York, where federal prosecutor Jay Clayton is handling the case. She confirmed that an unsealed indictment includes four counts against Maduro and three against his wife, with additional charges against co-defendants, including Maduro’s son.
“They are in the Southern District of New York right now. Everything else is still on the table. There are other defendants who are charged. We unsealed an indictment charging them with what I described: four counts against Maduro and three counts against his wife. Other co-defendants are charged. Maduro’s son is charged. Other people are charged as well. They could face charges in other jurisdictions. Nothing is off the table,” Bondi said.
Describing the accused as major criminal figures, Bondi said, “These are not street-level drug dealers. They are narco-traffickers,” responsible for the loss of “so many lives” and who “must remain behind bars.”
Earlier on Monday, Maduro pleaded “not guilty” to multiple federal charges during his first court appearance in New York City. He questioned the legality of his arrest, claiming he was detained at his residence in Caracas, signaling a central plank of his legal defense that the operation constituted a military abduction and violated international law and due process protections, according to CNN.
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