{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jackson-urges-gop-leadership-and-secretary-rubioto-halt-trumps", "CONGRESSMAN JACKSON URGES GOP LEADERSHIP AND SECRETARY RUBIOTO HALT TRUMP\u2019S RECKLESS \u201cEPSTEIN WAR\u201d AGAINST VENEZUELA", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Jonathan L. Jackson", "J000309", "jonathanjackson.house.gov", "jonathanjackson", "https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 With President Trump set to deliver a 9 p.m. address and new Epstein files exposing elite networks of corruption scheduled for release this week, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01) is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prevent any unauthorized U.S. military action against Venezuela.\n\nJackson, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended Secretary Rubio\u2019s confidential closed-door briefing this week. He expressed deep disappointment with Rubio\u2019s lack of candor and specificity, saying the Secretary \u201cfailed to identify any imminent threat to U.S. personnel or assets that could justify armed action\u201d and \u201cdodged basic constitutional questions about authority, targeting, and legality.\u201d\n\nJackson warned that Trump\u2019s escalating \u201cnarco-terrorism\u201d rhetoric, reported lethal double-tap strikes in the Caribbean, and threats of a full blockade constitute a dangerous and unconstitutional diversion meant to distract from mounting revelations connected to Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s criminal network, not a legitimate national security effort.\n\nJackson\u2019s Urgent Demands\n\nSpeaker Johnson and Leader Thune: Publicly commit to no new funding and no Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) for operations in Venezuela. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution vests war powers in Congress, and existing 2001 and 2002 AUMFs cover neither Venezuela nor any \u201cnarco-terror\u201d claims in the Caribbean. Congress must enforce the War Powers Resolution\u2019s 60-day limit and block any attempt to bypass a formal vote through an \u201cemergency\u201d supplemental.\n\nSecretary Rubio: Certify to Congress today that no blockades or strikes have been authorized against Venezuelan state assets. Release full intelligence on the 80-plus people reportedly killed in recent Caribbean strikes, including target verification, rules of engagement, and civilian casualty assessments. The Pentagon\u2019s own admission of a September \u201cdouble-tap\u201d strike killing 11 survivors raises serious concerns of potential violations under the Geneva Conventions.\n\nJackson further called on Trump to directly address the Epstein files and cease using foreign military action to deflect public scrutiny:\n\n\u201cThe timing is unmistakable. As documents surface exposing elite complicity in Epstein\u2019s crimes, the administration launches boat strikes and war rhetoric in Latin America. This is not policy , it\u2019s a panic-induced distraction,\u201d Jackson said.\n\nHe emphasized that Congress must not allow another executive overreach or \u201cpardons-for-politics\u201d cycle, pointing to reports that the administration has traded clemency for donor favors and political loyalty.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump shut down the government to obstruct the release of the Epstein files, branded them a \u201choax,\u201d and pressured members of Congress to prevent a vote on the discharge petition. Now he is saber-rattling toward Venezuela. How many people are expected to die to protect powerful pedophiles from justice?\u201d\n\nDiplomatic Solutions, Not Distractions\n\n\u201cMike Johnson, John Thune, Marco Rubio , history will not absolve your silence,\u201d Jackson added. \u201cDon\u2019t let this President turn the Caribbean into a battlefield to shield the powerful. If you believe in the Constitution, bring this to Congress before another life is lost.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://jonathanjackson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jackson-urges-gop-leadership-and-secretary-rubioto-halt-trumps"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9364496693015099, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}