Republican Congressmember Vince Fong of Bakersfield justified the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in comments made Monday.

“This is a law enforcement action. There is an active indictment against Maduro. He’s an illegitimate president, and it was necessary to hold him accountable and bring him to justice,” Fong said.

However, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, disagreed with his House colleague.

“There is no dispute that Nicolás Maduro is a dictator who has illegally and illegitimately clung to power, inflicting severe hardship on the Venezuelan people,” Costa said in a statement issued Saturday. “However, unilateral military action risks undermining U.S. standing in the region, straining relationships with key allies, and escalating instability throughout the hemisphere.

“As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am deeply troubled by reports that the President acted without consulting Congress. The Constitution is clear that Congress must be involved in decisions regarding the use of military force. Acting unilaterally undermines democratic oversight and sets a dangerous precedent.”

Costa will return to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

Maduro Enters Not Guilty Plea

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty in a New York City court Monday. American military forces ousted Maduro and Flores on Saturday, arresting them on drug trafficking and other charges. In court, Maduro claimed he was “kidnapped.”

Fong said there is precedent, pointing to the United States arresting, trying and convicting former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega in 1989.

Fong spoke Monday afternoon at the Rotary Club of Fresno at the downtown Cornerstone Conference Center. He told the group that Maduro was allied with America’s adversaries.

“If you want to give Russia, China, ISIS, and Iran a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, Venezuela was that nation,” Fong said.

He said America is safer with Maduro’s ouster. He claimed oil tankers seized by American forces off Venezuela’s coast were headed to Iran.

Fong cited Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, which designates the president as commander in chief, “to act to protect America.”

Full Vince Fong Speech on Venezuela

Valley Delegation Split on Party Lines

Fong said he was flying back to Washington on Monday evening. He will be briefed by the president on Venezuela on Tuesday.

Fong’s fellow Central Valley Republicans supported Trump’s actions.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, said Maduro’s arrest “advanced both the cause of justice and freedom in the Western Hemisphere.”

As for reaction to the arrest, McClintock said “the contrast between American socialists protesting Maduro’s ouster and the jubilation of ordinary Venezuelans celebrating their deliverance speaks for itself.”

McClintock said he will attend the Tuesday briefing.

Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, also supported Trump’s action.

“The Maduro regime has inflicted violence, corruption and suffering on the Venezuelan people for years, and I stand with those fighting to restore freedom, democracy and a hopeful future for their nation,” Valadao said.

Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, did not return messages seeking comment on the situation.