South Dakota’s only representative in the U.S. House said narcoterrorism is more widespread than American citizens understand.
SDPB asked U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson his take on claims from some that the Trump Administration unconstitutionally captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on drug trafficking and narcoterrorism charges.
Critics say without notifying Congress or getting approval, the administration stepped outside of its legal powers. The Trump Administration has maintained the operation was a law enforcement mission.
Johnson likened this instance to another in U.S. history.
“This is a police operation, not unlike what we saw with Noriega that was conducted by special operators,” Johnson said. “So, I mean I do want to learn more about the legal basis for it, but I think the legal basis is very similar to what we saw in Panama a few decades ago.”
Johnson is referring to the arrest of former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega. He was indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking charges during the George H.W. Bush Administration. Upon capture, Noriega served a 20-year prison sentence in the U.S.
He added it’s Congress’s job to “ask questions and identify the legal basis for this action.”
“In general, I think it is the best practice to make sure that congressional leaders, particularly those on the Intelligence Committee and the Armed Services understand these operations as they’re ongoing,” Johnson said.
While the term “narcoterrorism” may be new to most, Johnson said it’s a real threat in today’s world.
“I think Americans have been very slow to understand how broad and deep the control these cartels have over governments. It’s hard for us to understand and appreciate because we’re blessed enough to be Americans. But I mean there have been dozens of Mexican mayors killed by the drug cartels,” Johnson said. “There has been lots of evidence that perhaps even Mexican presidents over the course the last 40, 50 years have been unduly influenced by the cartels. And, of course, we know that much of Central and South America these cartels can on any given day, or any given town, be the most powerful enterprise in existence.”
Johnson said the U.S. knows "these narcoterrorists are very well financed, very well organized and are causing harm to our communities.”
