Classified legal memo argues Trump wasn't constrained by US or international law for Maduro capture operation
- Publisher
- CNN
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- Type
- news report
- Link
- https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/politics/memo-maduro-capture-olc
- Last checked
- 2026-10-26
- Rights
- reference only — we link and describe; we do not republish the text.
Cited in
-
Defense and Security
Seizing a head of state without telling Congress: Operation Absolute Resolve, 75 dead, and a $4.7 billion bill
On January 3, 2026, 200 US special operators and 150 aircraft seized Nicolás Maduro in Caracas; about 75 people died, Congress was told afterward, a secret memo said no law bound the president, and Trump said the US would 'run' Venezuela.