Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., accused Vice President Mike Pence of inciting violence by speaking on the devolving situation in Venezuela. Tuesday has seen an escalation in violence against pro-Nicolás Maduro regime forces as Juan Guaidó, the recognized acting president of Venezuela, calls for his supporters to take the country back.
Khanna told MSNBC that Congress has called for restraint on both sides so there are no more causalities and specifically called out Pence.
“This is why some of us in Congress have been urging restraint. We condemn Maduro’s regime. It’s been a failed regime,” said Khanna. “But we have been saying the vice president shouldn’t be interfering and inciting violence with Guaidó. What we should be doing is deferring to the Pope to have a negotiated settlement, or Uruguay, or Mexico. It looks like the United States is inching into another bloody conflict, and this is not going to be easy. Venezuela is one of the most armed nations in the world, 1.6 million militias. The military appears divided between Guaidó and Maduro.”
“And the question is: Is this the United States’ role to get involved in yet another war overseas?” he asked.
Pence tweeted his support for Guaidó, saying the United States “will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored.”
[Opinion: Trump, out of nowhere, delivers a masterstroke on Venezuela]
To @jguaido, the National Assembly and all the freedom-loving people of Venezuela who are taking to the streets today in #operacionlibertad—Estamos con ustedes! We are with you! America will stand with you until freedom & democracy are restored. Vayan con dios! #FreeVenezuela
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 30, 2019
Guaidó announced on Monday “Operation Freedom” had commenced to liberate the country from Maduro’s regime.
“This is the moment, the moment is now,” Guaidó said in the speech, surrounded by men in military uniforms and armored vehicles. “Today, brave soldiers, brave patriots, brave men devoted to the constitution have taken up our call.”
