Washington, D.C. – Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb said this week that President Donald Trump’s escalating criticism of judges and aggressive military actions overseas reflect a broader effort to weaken institutions that can limit presidential power. Speaking about U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, Cobb argued that many Americans are increasingly alarmed by what he called unprecedented uses of executive authority.
Cobb said the Constitution “is not adequate” to restrain a president willing to deploy force in ways that raise legal and humanitarian questions. Since September, U.S. forces have conducted operations that have killed more than 80 people on open waters, with the administration characterizing the targets as part of a terrorist-designated drug cartel linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Maduro denies leading such a network.
The U.S. recently deployed its largest aircraft carrier strike group to the Caribbean, a move Pentagon officials say supports ongoing counter-cartel operations. Cobb, however, argued that the actions may amount to unlawful killings under international standards, noting that individuals transporting drugs on small boats would normally face arrest, not lethal force.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott has defended the campaign, calling Maduro “a fugitive of American justice.” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said all operations comply with U.S. and international law.
The administration’s designation of the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization is set to take effect Monday, potentially expanding the legal basis for future strikes.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
