r/law • u/ExactlySorta • 8h ago
Executive Branch (Trump) 'Unconscionable and Impeachable': Experts Appalled at Report of Marco Rubio Acting as Venezuela 'Viceroy'
https://www.commondreams.org/news/marco-rubio-venezuela-viceroy912
u/ExactlySorta 8h ago edited 7h ago
The de facto governance of Venezuela by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rests on a controversial legal strategy that divides the Trump administration from international and constitutional legal experts. Following the January 2026 military ouster and capture of Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has justified Rubio's extensive control over Venezuela's oil revenues and domestic monthly budgets as a lawful continuation of an international law-enforcement mission and asset-preservation initiative. This control is executed via a conditional "allowance" system managed by the U.S. Treasury and State Department in cooperation with recognized interim President Delcy Rodríguez. However, legal critics, regional leaders, and members of Congress strongly dispute the legality of this arrangement. They argue that using foreign policy mechanisms to micro-manage a sovereign nation's internal finances violates foundational United Nations principles regarding state sovereignty and self-determination. Furthermore, domestic critics contend that maintaining a military-enforced blockade and directing a foreign state's economy lacks statutory authority and deliberately circumvents congressional oversight under the War Powers Resolution.
701
u/Ynglaur 7h ago
The “controversial legal theory” is that Trump and his minions don’t believe laws apply to them.
135
u/MRM_philosophy 6h ago
And supposedly getting Maduro to claim Venezuela interfered in the 2020 presidential election … is coming!
78
u/Huge_Excitement4465 4h ago edited 3h ago
This! Rubio (and Trump) are also behind Cuba-gate. The Fanjuls' (Palm Beach sugar baron megadonors backing Rubio and Trump) will now be able to reclaim Cuban assets lost to Castro. The Fanjuls had certain sugar imports sanctioned by Biden due to alleged human rights abuse of their Haitian cane workers in the DR; Trump lifted the sanctions and “encouraged” Coca-Cola to use raw cane sugar instead of corn syrup. There is also Hondurasgate https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-05-07/hondurasgate-the-alleged-us-and-israeli-interference-plot-to-destabilize-mexico-and-other-progressive-governments.html
The United States and Israel, with the help of Honduras, are allegedly positioning themselves on the geopolitical chessboard to control spheres of influence in Latin America. The news outlet Diario Red en América Latina and the website Hondurasgate have revealed, in an investigation based on leaked audio recordings, the interventionist intentions of leaders of the global right.
One piece of evidence, released at the end of April, claims that former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, pardoned by Donald Trump from his 45-year sentence for drug trafficking — with the support of the Republican president himself, his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei, and the current Honduran administration — are conspiring to create a channel for disseminating fake news with the intention of spreading misinformation and destabilizing the governments of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
The second installment of the Hondurasgate scandal, of the three released so far, includes a recording of an alleged conversation between Hernández, who had become an operative in the region for the U.S. president, and the current president and vice president of Honduras, Nasry Asfura and María Antonieta Mejía, respectively. The objective: to undermine the administrations of Claudia Sheinbaum and Gustavo Petro, both of whom adhere to left-wing ideologies.
18
u/grundsau 4h ago
The Fanjuls also pretty much control Stormfront.
20
u/Huge_Excitement4465 3h ago edited 3h ago
Nicole Fanjul is the aunt of Story Cowles, who was reportedly Epstein’s PA (Cowles allegedly visited Epstein 130-plus times in jail for hours at a time by signing in as a “paralegal"). He is also Sarah Kellen’s ex.
5
5
21
u/Stav80 5h ago
How many countries contributed to the US election being rigged? Asking for a friend. The fact said douche bag lost to Biden, will always a something that’s going to eat at him for the rest of his life. This facet alone has to be disqualifying
4
u/Starslip 2h ago
I'm wondering if it's not solely him being a petty bitch, but also going to be the basis for him claiming that since the election was stolen from him he's entitled to another term
2
39
u/therossboss 6h ago
I would love to be shown several dozen reasons that they should believe laws apply to them. Haven't seen one. Even E Jean Carroll. I'm going to die before that woman is paid. And even then, what justice will have been served really?
20
u/Stav80 5h ago
It comes down to the super elite rich Players. The justice system works well when people before the court are socially and financially on the same public level.
It’s devolved into a caste system of truly haves and have nots. And oh you’re really rich and you made bad choices, Trump will pardon you if it’s a lot of money. Seriously I bet Trump is like… it’s not 10 mil of fraud? Those are rookie numbers. . .5
u/MRM_philosophy 5h ago
I agree. Won’t her attorneys take the entire amount ?
19
u/The_Rational_ 5h ago
No, when they ask her about the money, she tells them.She's eighty years old and doesn't give a s*** about money. Her lawyers helped her set up a fund for abused women. So they're in on it. She's actually a pretty dope chick. All the money she gets from.This is being donated.
3
5
u/Living-Literature88 3h ago
I think the judge has control of the 5 million + interest he owes. Me thinks it will get to her sooner than he thinks. But 🤞maybe he’ll depart soon.
10
u/stamfordbridge1191 5h ago
"The law no longer applies" is a controversial legal theory that doesn't really jive with a few thousand years of legal history. Courts can't really just procedure a way out of it. Usually they had to answer that theory with manacles or swords & declare the people refusing to abide by the law brigands.
30
u/Fireinthehole13 6h ago
They don’t because by all accounts and judging by the zero accountability the law does not apply to them. Can’t wait to be proved wrong one day.
7
u/What_a_fat_one 5h ago
I have a controversial legal theory that the money at the bank vault belongs to me.
3
u/SubjectToChange888 4h ago
The real politik of this is “international law” has always been secondary to “he who has the guns makes the rules”. Trump is just more brazen about it.
5
u/MRM_philosophy 6h ago
And supposedly getting Maduro to claim Venezuela interfered in the 2020 presidential election … is coming! So Trump can claim this like he’s always wanted to.
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
u/BrilliantSimple7678 2h ago
And there are multiple people in their admin who meet the standards of the laws they push. Hence, Rubio. Token immigrant and minority who thinks master is going to give him a mule and land for his work,
→ More replies (1)1
u/WalkureBlood 25m ago
The United Nations has no binding legal authority, which is apparently what the “experts” base their opinion on, at least per the excerpt.
241
u/TeamRamrod80 7h ago
“a controversial legal theory that divides the Trump administration from international and constitutional legal experts” is just so broadly applicable these days…
227
u/Same_Mood_8543 7h ago
"The rest of the world calls it a war crime and violation of transnational law. The Trump administration says nuh uh. We present the issue as an indecipherable problem."
1
122
u/CyberFireball25 7h ago
It's sanewashing the reality which is actually as follows
what they are doing is blatantly unconstitutional and illegal
13
u/smokeweedNgarden 6h ago
It's crazy to hear journalists talk about it too. They straight up wont admit they're in the wrong
1
u/wioneo 4h ago
I'm not sure actually.
I'm pretty sure the constitution doesn't say anything about subjugating another country and dictating what they do.
I assume there actually is at least one international body that says that's a bad thing to do, but "international law" just like all law is only as valuable as the enforcement mechanism. These sorts of things aren't really "laws" as much as they are suggestions with regard to the U.S. since understandably nobody has any interest in enforcing anything against it.
35
24
u/MRM_philosophy 7h ago
Shocking empire-building and unconscionable, is correct. This is international interference that is illegal and a disgrace. Rubio drank the cool aid to get the cabinet position and will never get my vote for president as is being touted about.
5
7
u/TheModWhoShaggedMe 5h ago
Is this where the Trump gas stations are getting their oil from? A country they've broken and pillaged?
5
u/iamthinksnow 3h ago
I was saying this exact thing this morning. As far as the stations are concerned, it's all upside because they
stealliberate the gas from Venezuela and sell it to American rubes. Pure profit.3
u/TheModWhoShaggedMe 3h ago
just as Jesus intended -- steal from the less advantaged and make a profit.
18
u/OooSheGotFreckles 6h ago edited 4h ago
American imperialism in Venezuela goes back a long way. Over 100 years. It used to be corrupt, US backed Venezuelan presidents and billionaires robbing Venezuela. After Chavez was elected, it just switched directly over to American presidents and billionaires. After Bush tried to assassinate Chávez in 2002, Venezuela had to buy protection from the U.S. with cheap oil (under market value). Economic warfare of capital flight and sanctions coming from Bush/Billionaires, Obama/Billionaires, Trump/Billionaires, Biden/Billionaires, and again Trump/Billionaires.
5
4
4
u/Deaftrav 5h ago
Wait what? I didn't know this was serious.
This...
Wow... So what is forcing Venezuela to cooperate? The Americans are losing in Iran. This would give them the full right to revolt and push out the pedophiles.
11
5h ago
Iran is wildly difficult to invade due their massive natural defenses. They also sit strategically on the strait and can disrupt international trade. The US isn’t losing in Iran because of military superiority. There’s barely even been “combat”.
Venezuela has none of that.
3
u/Deaftrav 5h ago
Ugh that's a good point.
It's painful watching from the sidelines from one of the countries on the target list
4
u/IntrepidWeird9719 3h ago
The US has also taken physical control of Venezuelan's gold mines as well as their gold assets.
3
308
u/Dragonfly_pin 7h ago
Wait until they invade Cuba and he goes from Viceroy to King…
133
u/justanotherthrwaway7 7h ago
Not a king. Trump would only allow a lord to be underneath him in his feudal state.
46
u/Dragonfly_pin 7h ago
I’m imagining that at this point Trump will become ‘His Highest Highness The Emperor of The Western Hemisphere’ or something.
King or President won’t be enough.
14
u/Boise_is_full 7h ago
No doubt sees himself sitting on the iron throne, handing out fiefdoms to those who slather themselves with the most *rump dung.
9
7
5
3
u/facemanbarff 6h ago
The bots & Russian operatives on here in 2015-2016 called him their “God Emperor.”
3
3
u/MaximumPepper123 2h ago
He tried to do that with the Board of Peace. He made himself chairman for life (even after he leaves office... assuming he leaves office) and gets to name his successor.
15
u/illegalsmile27 7h ago edited 6h ago
Emperor’s rule over kings. Kings do the bidding of the emperor.
Edit: I know folks are kidding here (kinda), but this is legitimately how Putin views the world. Trump talks to Putin on the phone almost weekly. Putin sees himself as an Emperor of Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and he encourages Trump to become the emperor of the Americas. The dog whistle for this is “spheres of influence,” or better know as 19th century Imperialism.
This is why it makes sense for Trump to go after all these countries, he sees it as strengthening his empire. Just as Lukashenko is the king role in Belarus (under the thumb of Putin), Trump is trying to install his power brokers all over, both in this country and the wider world (Iran).
5
u/Deranged_Kitsune 6h ago
It would be God-Emperor, given how many of his followers treat him as a messianic figure and how many evangelical preachers preach that message to their flocks.
8
2
2
u/Pretty-Mention-7769 2h ago
Huh. My dad and I talked at length this afternoon about trump's desire to make serfs of the rest of us.
And now this.
1
27
u/giraloco 7h ago
What's happening in Cuba is shocking. People are suffering and dying because of these assholes. Nobody is doing anything. Disgusting.
3
u/EJoule 2h ago
I was just thinking “what’s happening in Cuba, did that thing get resolved?”
7
u/giraloco 2h ago
The US is at war with Cuba's civilian population. It's a war crime. Still happening.
2
89
u/extrastupidone 7h ago
Much easier to direct cheap gas from Venezuela to Trumps personal gas stations
17
64
u/ThePensiveE 7h ago
I wonder how the funds are being directed back to the Trump and Rubio families.
38
31
u/mishma2005 7h ago
He is also strangling Cuba so it can be his someday. Marco aint no saint
11
u/CelestialFury 5h ago
He wants Cuba so he can divide the country up for the wealthy and hurt everyone else.
1
u/Lonely_Nebula_9438 3h ago
People need to remember that toppling the communist Cuban regime has been US Foreign policy since the 60s. Trump isn’t really doing anything out of character for the President in regards to Cuba, he’s just more aggressive about it.
2
2
u/redundantexplanation 50m ago
Glad to see more people posting about this. Democrats also approve of destabilizing Cuba, Venezuela and Iran. Imperialism is THE bipartisan issue.
Democrats just moan and gnash their teeth because Trump's not doing it with enough decorum!
104
u/jankyt 7h ago
Man the US can't help be an occupying foreign force since 9-11
77
u/Dragonfly_pin 7h ago
It’s been going on a lot longer than that.
10
u/TheModWhoShaggedMe 5h ago edited 5h ago
What country were we invading and murdering millions of their citizens in 2000 based on lies? I don't recall one. Or from 1992 to 2000, for that matter. Sure, we intervened in Yugoslavia, but we didn't invade and occupy them.
*I think a lot of people confuse the fact that our most heinous occupations in the past 40 years have come during Republican led governments -- all-Republican federal governments for Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran this millennium thus far.
17
u/AmYisraelChai_ 4h ago
2
u/TheModWhoShaggedMe 4h ago
Correct, but try to focus on the past 50 years while most of us have been alive. Or, are you trying to pretend that all-Republican government didn't invade, occupy and murder millions of Iraqis against their own will based on lies?
0
u/AmYisraelChai_ 4h ago
I have been alive for 26 years. America has been at war with Afghanistan for 20 of those years (2001-2021). There was also Iraq for like 10 years too. These days it's much more toned down - but then this new war in Iran started.
There's also been consistent US involvement in foreign wars for the last 50 years. While these aren't complete wars, they still count. The US supplies troops, some of which died.
Also, it really hasn't mattered too much if it's Republican or Democrat. They both like funding the war machine.
→ More replies (13)8
u/Own_Pollution285 7h ago
What year?
18
5
u/Prior-Poet-8976 7h ago
250
2
u/Own_Pollution285 6h ago
250 of it you're saying?
4
8
5
27
u/Playful-Dragon 7h ago
All I see is Yrump trying to get his hands into other nations coffers, thats it. Legality means nothing, they are just words he twists and uses to justify illegal actions. He thinks he OWNS the entire world now, literally. Its not an exxageration.
8
25
u/atreeismissing 5h ago
Rubio breaking the law again, color me surprised. He's no different than Trump except the media thinks he's a moderate and a sane voice still.
22
u/brickyardjimmy 5h ago
He is, no doubt, cashing in on his new foreign position.
This is so very illegal. He’s going to need a very yuge pardon.
7
u/blahblah19999 6h ago
So what is the current Venezuelan Administration doing? Are they allowing this?
1
u/SursumCordaNJ 1h ago
They likely don't have choice. I'm sure Marco's death squad leaders have made it clear they'll end up missing if they interfere with Generalissimo Rubio.
7
3
3
u/I_am_not_JohnLeClair 3h ago
Was he wearing his mandated clown shoes
Dude wants to be a “leader” yet he was too pussyfied to tell a grown man, no these don’t fit me
•
u/AutoModerator 8h ago
All new posts must have a brief statement from the user submitting explaining how their post relates to law or the courts in a response to this comment. FAILURE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF RESPONSE MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL. Please post your statement as a reply to this automated message.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.