Cartoon by Kíke

Pritzker: Trump ‘might take us to war with Venezuela’ to distract from Epstein controversy

BY TARA SUTER

The Hill: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) suggested Wednesday that President Trump ramping up military operations in the Caribbean is his way of distracting from controversy surrounding files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Lawmakers released thousands of new files related to the case Wednesday, after House Democrats leaked emails from Epstein that raise new questions about how much Trump knew when it came to the late disgraced financier’s relationship with underage girls.

“My great fear, of course, is that with the release of that information, which I think will be devastating for Trump, he’s going to do everything in his power to distract,” Pritzker told The Associated Press in an interview.
“What does that mean? I mean, he might take us to war with Venezuela just to get a distraction in the news and take it out of the headlines.” he added.
In recent months, the Trump administration has faced intense backlash over its handling of files linked to Epstein from both sides of the aisle — with pressure mounting for the release of all of the documents. Democrats late Wednesday successfully moved a discharge petition across the finish line to do just that, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he would bring it to the floor for a vote next week.

The move comes days after the U.S. military’s largest aircraft carrier — the USS Gerald R. Ford — arrived in Latin America as part of the Defense Department’s pressure campaign against drug cartels and vessels in the Caribbean. Venezuela, whom the administration has pinned much of the blame on for the illegal movement of narcotics, responded by announcing their own “massive deployment” of soldiers as tensions rise in the region over the deadly boat strikes.

According to Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, officials were putting “the entire country’s military arsenal on full operational readiness.”

In a recent interview, Trump said he did not believe the U.S. would be going to war with the South American nation but suggested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be out of his role shortly.

When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said “Pritzker’s whole schtick is to distract from the absolutely atrocious job he’s done leading his state.”