Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin have issued a joint statement criticizing the Trump administration for not including their committee in a Capitol Hill briefing about the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. Maduro, who was indicted on charges related to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracy, was the subject of a law enforcement operation involving several federal agencies.
In their statement, Grassley and Durbin said: “President Trump and Secretary Rubio have stated that this was a law enforcement operation that was made at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over DOJ, FBI and DEA, and all three agencies are led by individuals who our Committee vetted and processed. The Attorney General herself will be present at today’s briefing.
“There is no legitimate basis for excluding the Senate Judiciary Committee from this briefing. The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable and we are following up to ensure the Committee receives warranted information regarding Maduro’s arrest.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for overseeing federal judicial matters, reviewing legislation related to criminal justice and civil liberties, evaluating judicial nominations, and supervising federal law enforcement agencies such as DOJ, FBI, and DEA. The committee operates from Washington, D.C., includes members from both major political parties, and plays an important role in shaping policies affecting constitutional rights and public safety nationwide according to its official website.
As a standing committee within the legislative branch of government, it conducts hearings on legal issues that affect national policy. Its oversight responsibilities extend to ensuring transparency in law enforcement operations involving federal agencies.
