Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) criticized U.S.-led strikes on Yemen, saying they were “an unacceptable violation of the Constitution.” “Article 1 requires that military action be author…

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) criticized U.S.-led strikes on Yemen, saying they were “an unacceptable violation of the Constitution.”

“Article 1 requires that military action be authorized by Congress,” Jayapal added in her post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, late Thursday.

Other Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), also criticized the strikes.

  • Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
    691·
    1 year ago

    Per the article, this military action falls under the War Powers Act.

    The Act requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of military action and requires the termination of military action within 60 days of its commencement if Congress has not officially declared war or authorized the military action.

    These rebels have been attacking shipping, including US warships making this a defensive action. In addition, Congress was notified within 48 hours and 60 days have not yet passed. While I personally oppose further involvement in the middle-east, pretending that this is a violation of the Constitution is absurd. This crap has been going on since the War Powers Act was passed in 1973. If these legislatures don’t like it, then they are well within their rights to repeal the War Powers Act or get SCOTUS to rule it unconstitutional.

    Of course, they won’t do that though. That might keep the president from bombing the people that they want bombed.

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
      71·
      1 year ago

      There’s an argument that the war powers act is unconstitutional, but it will likely never actually get challenged.

      The more fun fact is that if Biden continues action past 60 days, he will be the third consecutive Democratic president to violate the war powers act.