The Latest: Trump officials give nearly two-hour briefing to top lawmakers on Venezuela

Top officials from President Donald Trump’s administration briefed congressional leaders on the U.S. government’s plans for the future of Venezuela in a Monday evening meeting on Capitol Hill.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials discussed Venezuela with House and Senate leadership, as well as top members of the intelligence committees and national security committees.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said after receiving the briefing he does not expect the United States to deploy troops to Venezuela, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the session “posed far more questions than it answered.”

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom on Monday, his first court appearance for what is likely to be a prolonged legal fight.

Maduro appeared in court on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify Read Entire Article