U.S. Senate vote to constrain Trump’s actions in Iran fails

WASHINGTON — Hours after the Trump administration touted its Operation Epic Fury as a “resounding success” on Wednesday, Democratic senators mounted an unlikely bid to curb President Donald Trump’s ability to use additional military forces in Iran.

The measure failed 53-47 after Democrats failed to muster enough Republican votes to advance the effort.

“American families are going to pay for Trump’s war,” Sen. Patty Murray said on the Senate floor before the vote. “It is up to our Congress to say enough. But we need Republicans to join us.”

The war powers resolution, co-sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., would have directed the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. It was largely symbolic: If the measure had passed the Senate, it would have been unlikely to pass the House and receive Trump’s signature.

Still, Wednesday’s vote represents the first time Congress formally registered its opinion of a campaign Trump launched without its consent, affirming deep divides on Capitol Hill. Most Republicans approve of the operation, arguing that it was necessary for American national security, while most Democrats, including those in Washington state, condemn it.

“No one here mourns the supreme leader, but no one in this administration has a clear answer to what happens next,” Murray, Washington state’s senior Democrat, said on the Senate floor. “You don’t bring democracy to the Middle East with bombs.”

Lawmakers sped to bring the resolution to the floor this week, days after the Trump administration began a bombing campaign in Iran with the intent, Trump said Saturday, of replacing the country’s leaders and destroying its nuclear program.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the U.S., Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday, and fighting has rippled outside of Iran as well.

The majority of Washington state’s federal lawmakers — echoing Democratic lawmakers nationwide — quickly condemned the attack, sharing statements within hours that called the operation an “unconstitutional war” and an “offensive use of military force.” The lawmakers said Trump overstepped his authority by striking the country without consulting Congress, and that the action risks chaining the U.S. to an unending conflict.

“The President should not have initiated a large-scale attack on Iran without Congressional approval, the support of key allies around the world, or having made his case to the American people,” Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a statement Saturday.

At least one member from Washington supports the attack. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, applauded Trump’s decision over the weekend and, after receiving a classified briefing from administration officials, said he “was confident before and am more confident now.”

Rep. Dan Newhouse, the only other Republican in Washington state’s Congressional delegation, has not made a public statement on the issue and did not respond to The Seattle Times’ request for comment.

Among Seattle-area Iranians on Saturday, many took to the streets to celebrate the administration’s move, while others worried it cued the start of a broader conflict that could destabilize the Middle East.

The Trump administration has since signaled conflict may last weeks, declining to state a specific time frame. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday the operation “has been a resounding success.”

“We expect to have complete and total dominance of Iranian airspace in the coming hours,” Leavitt said during a news briefing.

Meanwhile, U.S. senators delivered hours of impassioned speeches on the Senate floor, largely split along party lines, in support of or rebuking Operation Epic Fury. Democrats reiterated that Trump should have consulted Congress; Republicans rallied behind the president.

Congress has voted on multiple other war powers resolutions since Trump retook office, all of which failed. Most recently, the Senate failed to advance such a resolution in January, after Trump deposed Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, told The Seattle Times that despite the unsuccessful attempts and symbolic nature of the resolutions, it is crucial that federal lawmakers’ opinions on Trump’s actions be publicly noted.

“If they support this, if they think this is a good idea, they should at least be accountable for that,” Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said.

The House is set to vote Thursday on a similar war powers resolution regarding Iran. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., commended the president’s operation in Iran.

“The President acted fully within his authority under the law, and consistent with the precedent set by presidents for the past four decades,” Johnson said on social media. “Efforts now to restrict the Commander in Chief from completing this limited but crucial mission would be both dangerous and irresponsible.”

WA Legislature | WA State Politics

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