U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said that President Donald Trump needs to make his case for launching airstrikes against Iran to Congress and the American people.
He also questions the timing of the operation given that the Trump administration declared that Iran’s nuclear program had “obliterated” just eight months ago.
“They used terms like ‘obliterate’ and ‘completely obliterate.’ In fact, at one point I think it was [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth who said, ‘anybody who says that’s not the case, it’s fake news,’” King said. “Well, they’re the ones now saying, ‘well that’s not the case.’”
King, who gets classified briefings as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that he’s received no information that Iran was preparing to launch attacks against the U.S. or its allies.
He also doubts that airstrikes would lead to a change in the Iranian regime, a goal he supports given its brutal and deadly crackdown on public opposition and support for terrorist proxies around the globe.
King said he plans to vote for a war powers resolution that would curb Trump’s ability to wage war in Iran without congressional approval.
The vote is currently scheduled for Wednesday.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.
