Democrats say they were lied to about Trump's raid on Venezuela

Top Democrats criticised a US military raid in Venezuela and said lawmakers were not informed in advance; they called the action unlawful under the US Constitution. The Senate is set to debate and vote next week on a bipartisan war powers resolution to block further hostilities without Congress's approval.

Top Democratic lawmakers spoke on Sunday after a US military raid in Venezuela the day before. They said Congress and key congressional leaders were not told about the operation ahead of time. Several Democrats described the intervention as unlawful under the US Constitution. International figures, including the UN secretary-general, criticised the action as breaching the UN charter. Key points: - Democratic leaders said they received no prior notification from the administration about the raid in Venezuela. - Some Democrats characterised the operation as an unlawful use of military force and, in public comments, called it an act of war. - Members of the congressional "gang of eight" said they were not briefed or contacted before the operation. - The US Senate is scheduled next week to debate and vote on a bipartisan war powers resolution intended to limit further military actions without explicit Congressional approval. Summary: Democratic officials publicly criticised the administration for bypassing congressional notification and for what they described as a constitutionally problematic intervention. The action also drew international criticism for potential breaches of the UN charter. The immediate next procedural step is a Senate debate and vote next week on a war powers resolution; the broader political and legal outcomes are undetermined at this time.