Lawmakers call for more information on Venezuela operation, questions about country's future

Описание: (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Against a backdrop of broad but vague assertions by President Donald Trump that the United States is going to “run” Venezuela after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro, a briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top officials left questions among lawmakers about the administration’s next steps in the South American country.

Seemingly contradictory statements from Trump and Rubio have suggested at once that the U.S. now controls the levers of Venezuelan power or that the U.S. has no intention of assuming day-to-day governance and will allow Maduro’s subordinates to remain in leadership positions for now.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters after Rubio's briefing late Monday that he does not expect the U.S. to deploy troops there.

The lack of clarity has wrought mounting concerns from lawmakers, Democrats especially, that Trump is embarking on a new era of U.S. expansionism without consultation of Congress or a clear vision for running Venezuela.

Here's the latest:

Protester interrupts a US ambassador to criticize military operation in Venezuela
It happened Tuesday while U.S. Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto was speaking at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington as the regional body met for the first time since the U.S. attacked Venezuela and arrested President Nicolás Maduro.

“The majority of people are against this!” cried out Madea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, a U.S.-based anti-war nonprofit. “Hands off Venezuela!”

She continued to cry out as OAS officials called for security guards who eventually led Benjamin out of the room.

“If you care enough about the Venezuelan people, you will lift the brutal sanctions!” Benjamin yelled.

Rizzuto resumed his speech after Benjamin was removed: “I understand there are many raw emotions.”

He called the strike a “targeted law enforcement action” against an “indicted criminal.”

“Let me be clear, the U.S. did not invade Venezuela,” Rizzuto said. “President Trump offered Maduro multiple offramps. This was not an interference in democracy … it actually removed the obstacle to it.”