Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) said he and his fellow senators were presented with evidence \u201cthat does not back up\u201d the Trump administration\u2019s claims that targeted boats in the Caribbean Sea are smuggling fentanyl into the U.S.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were presented some evidence that does not back up the story that the White House is telling to the American people,\u201d Kelly said to Martha Raddatz on ABC News\u2019s “This Week<\/a>.”\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trump has also authorized<\/a> 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\u2019s authoritarian leader, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, increasing tensions<\/a> throughout Latin America.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> to block the strikes, after a similar resolution was voted down<\/a> 51-48 by the upper chamber the week prior.\u00a0<\/p>\n Paul and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski were the only Republicans to vote in favor, while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote against the push.<\/p>\n