George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley is not a conservative, but he is an honest and very smart man. Since the news of Maduro’s capture by the U.S. Military under Trump this morning, he has been pointing out that Trump did not need approval from congress to do this, despite what Democrats are claiming now.
Turley uses the example of Manuel Noriega, who was removed from Panama by the United States in 1989 under similar circumstances. He refers to the actions of other presidents as well.
Democrats and their media allies will object in the months ahead, but there is legal precedence for all of this.
Turley wrote this for FOX News:
In an extraordinary military operation, the United States launched a large-scale military operation in Caracas, Venezuela, early Saturday, with Special Forces seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. There is a pending 2020 indictment of Maduro in the Southern District of New York, where he is expected to be taken to face prosecution…
This operation will be justified as executing the criminal warrant and responding to an international drug cartel, a very similar legal framework to the one used against Noriega. There is precedent supporting that earlier operation, which will now be used to defend the actions in Venezuela…
Democratic members quickly denounced the operation as unlawful. They may want to review past cases, particularly the decision related to the Noriega prosecution after his capture by the administration of President George H.W. Bush…
Trump does not need congressional approval for this type of operation. Presidents, including Democratic presidents, have launched lethal attacks regularly against individuals. President Barack Obama killed an American citizen under this “kill list” policy. If Obama can vaporize an American citizen without even a criminal charge, Trump can capture a foreign citizen with a pending criminal indictment without prior congressional approval.
Turley has talked about this on the air twice today. Here’s a short clip:
Law Professor Jonathan Turley debunks Democrats’ narrative that capturing Nicolas Maduro was “illegal”:
“This is a criminal matter and it aligns quite well with the Noriega case… I actually think this is a weaker case than Noriega… this guy was indicted in 2020.” pic.twitter.com/rbjB1zb93A
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 3, 2026
Here’s a longer video:
Turley has also tweeted about it.
Legally, Trump has the upper hand in this case. Maduro will replay the arguments of Noriega. However, he presents an even weaker case on the merits under the controlling precedent than did Noriega. https://t.co/ylMfum3Jtg
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) January 3, 2026
Democrats can scream at the sky about this all they want. Professor Turley is correct. Legal precedence is on Trump’s side.
