Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar where they demanded that the American people receive answers from the Trump administration on how they plan to avoid another deadly war in the Middle East.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Article I, Section VIII, Clause XI of the United States Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. The Trump administration undertook an offensive military strike in the Middle East and chose to ignore the constitutional requirement to get approval from the United States Congress. The American people deserve to know the facts and the truth, as it related to the decision to strike Iran without securing congressional approval. What was the imminent nature of the threat to the safety and security of the American people that justified the strike that took place?

What was the result of the military strike in terms of potentially setting back the Iranian nuclear program and their aspirations? We agree that Iran should never be permitted to become nuclear-capable. Iran is a sworn enemy of the United States of America and a sworn enemy of our allies, including Israel and Jordan. But there are real questions that need to be answered so that the American people have a full understanding of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Is it, in fact, the case that Iran’s nuclear program has been completely and totally obliterated?

There apparently are reasons to believe that that was a blatant misrepresentation made by Donald Trump to the American people. That’s one of the questions that needs to be answered by the Trump administration. What are they running away from? Why was this briefing, which is already days late, postponed? Why is the Trump administration playing political games on questions of war and peace that relate directly to the safety and security of the American people? We’re ready to undertake our constitutional responsibility on behalf of the American people on these serious issues, which include the need to get an answer to the question as to what is Donald Trump’s plan to avoid another costly and deadly war in the Middle East, which the American people want no part of, Democrats, independents and Republicans.

Full press conference can be watched here.

###