Republican Senator Mike Lee stated that during a phone call, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed him that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been arrested by “U.S. personnel” and will face a criminal court in the United States.

“He informed me that Nicolás Maduro has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States, and that the kinetic action we saw tonight was deployed to protect and defend those executing the arrest warrant.

This action likely falls within the president’s inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack,” the senator noted.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the country’s armed forces had carried out large-scale strikes on Venezuelan territory. He also stated that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with his wife, had been captured and flown out of the country by aircraft.