Congress returns, to war powers clash

Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week confronting the fallout from the stunning capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro-and familiar complaints about the Trump administration deciding to bypass Congress on military operations that have led to this moment.

- ANA CEBALLOS

MOLLY RILEY White House PETE Hegseth, left, John Ratcliffe and Marco Rubio meet with President Trump on Venezuela operations.

Democratic leaders are demanding the administration immediately brief Congress. Republican leaders indicated over the weekend those plans are being scheduled, but some lawmakers expressed frustration Sunday that the details have been slow to arrive.

President Trump told the nation Saturday that the United States intends to "run" Venezuela and take control over the country's oil operations now that Maduro has been captured and brought to New York to stand trial in a criminal case centered on narco-terrorism charges.

The administration did not brief Congress before the actions, leaving Democrats and some Republicans expressing public frustration with the decision to sideline Congress.

"Congress should have been informed about the operation earlier and needs to be involved as this situation evolves," Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in a social media post Saturday.

Appearing on the Sunday news shows, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, ticked through a growing list of unknowns - and laid out plans for their party to try and reassert Congress' authority over acts of war.

"The problem here is that there are so many unanswered questions," Schumer said on ABC's "This Week." "How long do they intend to be there? How many troops do we need after one day? After one week? After one year? How much is it going to cost and what are the boundaries?" Jeffries told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was worried about Trump running Venezuela, saying he has "done a terrible job running the United States of America" and should be focused on the job at home.