Witness says U.S. operations in and around Venezuela were lawful and disrupted a narco‑terrorist network

A witness defended recent U.S. operations in and around Venezuela, saying they were lawful under "both domestic and international law" and intended to enforce U.S. criminal statutes and protect American citizens.

"Critics have claimed the president's actions were unlawful. But both domestic and international law supports them in what they did," the witness said, framing the central dispute as legal rather than factual.

The witness described the operation's aims more concretely: "The United States acted to enforce US criminal law to protect American citizens, to dismantle a narco‑terrorist network responsible for enormous... unspeakable destructive harm." The speaker identified the operation by name, saying "Operation Resolve proves exactly that," and argued it sent "a very very clear message" that traffickers and those who "enable terrorism, and undermine democracy" cannot "hide behind corrupt regimes forever."

The witness also urged that the results were tangible: "We literally will save lives and families because of the work that was done there. It's really tangible. It's real. It makes a difference." The remarks present a mix of legal defense, law‑enforcement rationale, and claims of humanitarian benefit.

The transcript does not include specific legal citations, named statutes, court rulings, or named agencies responsible for the operations, nor does it record any formal vote or procedural next step. Critics' specific allegations of unlawfulness are noted but are countered in the speaker's remarks; the record here does not resolve that dispute or identify the legal authorities the witness relied on.

The hearing transcript provides the witness's assertions and characterization of Operation Resolve but does not document corroborating evidence, independent findings, or follow‑up actions in this excerpt.