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Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Congresswoman Mia Love issue statements after Syria missile attack

Posted at 3:43 PM, Apr 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-16 22:25:40-04

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued a statement Monday in response to a White House letter claiming sufficient constitutional authority for Friday night’s missile attacks on Syria:

“No President of the United States, no matter party or political ideology, has the authority to unilaterally start a war. While the president has the authority under the War Powers Act to respond when the U.S. is under attack or in imminent danger, such circumstances did not exist with regard to Syria. Promoting regional stability, mitigating humanitarian catastrophe, and deterring the use of chemical weapons might be important foreign policy goals, but if they are to be pursued with military force, a president must first seek congressional authorization.”

President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Syria Friday, after forces led by Bashar al-Assad allegedly used chemical weapons in an attack last week.

Trump defended his use of the term “mission accomplished” Sunday to describe Friday night’s missile strike in Syria.

Congresswoman Mia Love (R, UT) signed her name on a bipartisan letter addressing the White House’s decision: