Kelly: Senate evidence ‘does not back up’ Trump claims on Caribbean boat strikes
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) said he and his fellow senators were presented with evidence “that does back up” the Trump administration’s claims that targeted boats in the Caribbean Sea are smuggling fentanyl into the U.S.
“We were presented some evidence that does not back up the story that the White House is telling to the American people,” Kelly said Martha Raddatz on ABC News’ This Week.
Since early September, President Trump has authorized military strikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela and in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people. The administration has alleged the vessels had fentanyl on board, but has not presented public evidence of such claims.
Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the South American coast on Friday. The moves are part of an escalation between the U.S. and Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, increasing tensions throughout Latin America.
They have also garnered criticism from Democrats in Congress and select Republicans. On Oct. 17, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backed a measure to block the strikes, after a similar resolution was voted down 51-48 by the upper chamber the week prior.
Paul and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski the other Republicans to vote in favor, while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote against the push.
According to an unclassified intelligence report by Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020, Mexico and China are the primary sources of fentanyl flowing into the U.S. The report also noted that India is “emerging” as a source of the drug.
Kelly said Sunday that while the evidence the administration presented showed there were drugs on the boats, it was not fentanyl.
“This doesn’t make the United States more safe. This makes us less safe,” Kelly said. “Starting a war against over what is a law enforcement action does not make any sense.”