Senior officials from the Trump administration are set to face intense questioning from America's most powerful lawmakers today, following a surprise military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Congress Demands Answers on Covert Raid
The high-level briefing for the so-called 'Gang of Eight' is scheduled for Monday 5th January 2026. This select group comprises congressional leaders and senior intelligence committee members from both the Democratic and Republican parties. They are to be briefed by a heavyweight team from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Also expected to attend are Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The scope of the meeting may widen, with chairpeople and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees also potentially in attendance.
A Break with Tradition Sparks Tension
This post-operation briefing marks a significant departure from standard procedure. The Gang of Eight is traditionally informed in advance of major covert military actions. However, in this case, the operation targeting Maduro was executed without their prior knowledge.
President Donald Trump openly defended this decision over the weekend, telling reporters, "Congress has a tendency to leak." This comment is likely to fuel the already tense atmosphere during the closed-door session, as lawmakers seek to understand the legal and strategic justification for bypassing established oversight protocols.
Venezuela in Turmoil as Interim Leader Condemns 'Kidnapping'
The political fallout extends far beyond Washington. In Venezuela, the country's interim president was sworn into office amidst the crisis and immediately condemned the capture of Maduro, labelling it a "kidnapping." This sets the stage for a protracted diplomatic and legal battle.
Meanwhile, Nicolás Maduro himself has pleaded not guilty in a US court following his dramatic capture from his home in Venezuela. The operation, which involved a raid on his residence, has thrown the South American nation into further uncertainty and raised serious questions about the future of US-Venezuela relations and international law.
The briefing today is therefore a critical moment, not just for US domestic accountability, but for the international repercussions of a bold and controversial military intervention.
