Don-roe Doctrine Run-A-Muck

📰 Maryland Wire: Federal Watch

Maryland Democrats Blame “Don-roe Doctrine” for Unconstitutional “Act of War” in Venezuela

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of Maryland’s Democratic congressional delegation are leading a chorus of national concern following the Trump administration’s lightning military strike and subsequent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. While few in the delegation are defending Maduro’s record, they are united in condemning what they describe as a dangerous expansion of executive power and a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

The operation, which the President has branded as the centerpiece of his new “Don-roe Doctrine,” marks the first time since the 1989 invasion of Panama that the U.S. has forcibly removed a foreign head of state to face criminal charges in American courts [1].

Van Hollen: A “Grave Abuse of Power” for Oil

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the sharpest rebuke from the delegation, labeling the strikes an “act of war” conducted without the “immediate threat” required for such unilateral action. Van Hollen suggested the true motivation was not justice, but resource control.

“This act of war is a grave abuse of power by the President,” Van Hollen said in a statement Saturday [2]. “This is not about demolishing a dictatorship... This is about trying to grab Venezuela’s oil for Trump’s billionaire buddies. Congress must not abdicate its constitutional authority.”

The New Guard: Elfreth and Olszewski Question “Regime Change”

Maryland’s newest representatives, who took office in January 2025, were equally critical of the lack of a long-term strategy. Representative Sarah Elfreth (D-3rd), who succeeded John Sarbanes, warned that the American public has no appetite for “another regime change war” and criticized the administration for ignoring the House entirely before launching the strike [3].

Representative Johnny Olszewski (D-2nd) echoed these concerns, calling the administration’s rhetoric about “running” Venezuela “deeply concerning.”

> “History reminds us that capturing a leader does not always end a conflict or secure a lasting peace,” Olszewski noted [4].

Ivey and Delaney: Focusing on Common Sense and Due Process

Representative Glenn Ivey (D-4th) and Representative April Delaney (D-6th) have also weighed in, focusing on the legal precedents being shattered by the capture. Ivey, a former prosecutor known for his focus on the rule of law, has consistently pushed for the administration to provide the legal justification for the “narco-terrorism” strikes that preceded Maduro’s arrest [5].

Delaney, who has campaigned on a platform of “common sense and common ground,” joined the delegation in demanding that any further military escalation be subject to immediate congressional debate. The delegation’s concern is amplified by the fact that several members—including Ivey, Delaney, and Senator Angela Alsobrooks—were previously blocked by the administration from conducting oversight at local federal facilities earlier in 2025 [6].

A Delegation Unified Against Unilateralism

The consensus among Maryland Democrats is clear: while Maduro’s removal may be “welcome news” to some in the abstract, the method of his capture has created a constitutional crisis. By bypassing the War Powers Act, the administration has, in the eyes of the Maryland delegation, set a precedent that could allow future presidents to ignore Congress in any corner of the globe.

As Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are transported to face charges in New York, Maryland’s leaders are vowing to use their committee assignments to force a public accounting of the operation’s legality.

🔗 Footnotes

* Comparison to Operation Just Cause (Panama 1989): Associated Press, “U.S. strikes Venezuela, says its leader has been ‘captured’.” January 3, 2026.

* Link: https://afro.com/us-strike-venezuela-maduro-captured/

* Senator Chris Van Hollen’s Official Statement: WUSA9, “US Congress divided along party lines after Venezuela strikes.” January 3, 2026.

* Link: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/maduro-venezuela-virginia-maryland-lawmakers/65-e2fb1f60-f204-4d89-88e9-05146eb85385

* Representative Sarah Elfreth on Regime Change: Wikipedia, “Sarah Elfreth - Tenure in the 119th Congress.”

* Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Elfreth

* Representative Johnny Olszewski Statement: WYPR News, “Marylanders quickly organize response to Maduro capture.” January 3, 2026.

* Link: https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2026-01-03/maryland-delegation-baltimore-residents-react-to-venezuela

* Representative Glenn Ivey Oversight Focus: Fox News, “House Democrat calls Trump’s Maduro capture ‘welcome news’ as left labels it ‘illegal’.” January 3, 2026.

* Link: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrats-reveal-whether-walz-should-testify-held-accountable-massive-fraud-under-his-watch

* Maryland Delegation ICE Facility Standoff: Fox News, “Maryland lawmakers denied entry at ICE facility, Homeland Security responds.” July 28, 2025.

* Link: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-exposes-monsters-democrat-senator-fighting-protect-immigration-battle