Maduro in Chains — and Probably the Blood of Children on His Hands UPDATED

But still, Rosie O'Donnell, The View, MSNOW, and most late-night TV hosts will hate President Trump more than the likes of Maduro, Hamas, and anyone who might push you into the path of an oncoming train. TD

 The American Spectator

Maduro’s indictment could expand beyond drugs and guns to the systematic torture of minors.

"In the wake of the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, the United States is now forced to reckon with a record of depravity that is nothing short of a great human scandal. Indeed, the crimes of which Mr. Maduro has been credibly accused boggle the mind.

"Maduro’s presence on American soil is the result of years of legal preparation and, according to Saturday’s press conference, months of operational planning. He arrives facing a lengthy federal indictment in the Southern District of New York. The charges are staggering: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and the possession of machine guns and destructive devices. The U.S. government alleges that Maduro functioned as the leader of the “Cartel de los Soles,” effectively converting the Venezuelan state into a criminal enterprise designed to flood American streets with poison while enriching a corrupt elite. He is also accused of stealing American oil and using the proceeds to fund his criminal endeavors and entrench his power.

"But as grave as these narco-terrorism charges are, they only scratch the surface of Maduro’s evil. The current U.S. legal framework focuses on drugs and guns because they provide the clearest, most traditional path to a domestic conviction. However, the American people, the Venezuelan people, and indeed the whole world deserve more than a trial about smuggling routes, vessels, and the usual talking points of foreign policy hawks.

"Moreover, an inconvenient truth arises for his apologists, both foreign adversaries and domestic stooges: if the Department of Justice is truly committed to the so-called “full wrath of American justice,” it must pursue explicit charges for the crimes against humanity that define Maduro’s tenure. One crime especially demands the sword: the detention and physical and sexual torture of children.

"The International Criminal Court has, since 2021, been pursuing a formal investigation into credible reports of systematic torture, sexual violence, and political persecution. Children are among those most affected by these heinous abuses. Following the South American nation’s rigged 2024 election, at least 220 children were forcibly detained. Many were held in adult prisons and subjected to what Amnesty International has dubbed “endless cruelty.” . . .

"The United States must speak and act with crystalline clarity: the DOJ must immediately expand its charges against Maduro to include these crimes against children. Further, if convicted, Mr. Maduro has quite possibly forfeited his right to life."   More...

UPDATE: The Three Hour War in Venezuela 

Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado dedicated her award to Trump. She knew.  While Machado is popular and world-renowned, Venezuelans elected Edmundo González president in 2024 after Maduro kicked Machado off the ballot. She 100% backs having González assume the presidency. He exiled himself to Spain but plans to return next Saturday to take the oath as president.