U.S. Courts Expected to Convict Maduro for Decades Following Lawful Arrest

Sen. Pete Ricketts, Republican from Nebraska, stated on Thursday that the U.S. arrest and extraction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was a lawful law-enforcement operation and expressed confidence that American courts would convict him and imprison him for an extended period.

During his recent appearance on “National Report,” Ricketts described Maduro as a “narco-terrorist communist dictator” and asserted that the world is better off without him in Venezuela.

Ricketts also highlighted what he termed hypocrisy among Democrats, noting that several had previously called for Maduro’s removal. He cited Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who had criticized former President Donald Trump in the past for failing to oust Maduro during his first term.

“Now that he’s out, all of a sudden they don’t like it because Trump did it,” Ricketts said.

The senator compared the legality of Maduro’s arrest to the case of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, who was indicted on U.S. drug charges in 1988, captured during the U.S. invasion of Panama, and later convicted in federal court.

Ricketts stated that U.S. courts had ultimately upheld Noriega’s prosecution, rejecting claims that his capture was illegal. “This has actually been litigated before with Noriega,” Ricketts said. “It was upheld in our courts here.”

Ricketts expressed confidence that a similar outcome would occur in Maduro’s case, adding that both Maduro and his wife would face lengthy prison sentences. “I’m confident that our justice system will be able to convict him and put him and his wife away for a long, long time,” he said.

Ricketts argued that Maduro’s Venezuela had become a safe haven for U.S. adversaries, including communist China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, while serving as a transit point for dangerous drugs headed to the United States and Europe. Calling the development “good for America,” Ricketts said he is watching closely to see how interim authorities in Venezuela will work with the United States to curb drug trafficking and restore stability.