Blackburn Warnings on Venezuela Cartels

In remarks delivered Tuesday on Newsmax, Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn has issued strong warnings regarding narco-terrorist activity originating from Venezuela and posing significant threats within U.S. communities.

Blackburn stated, “We know Venezuela has been at the center of this narco-terrorist activity,” while commending President Trump for taking action to protect Americans. She added that law enforcement officials continue to warn about cartel activity reaching deeper into American neighborhoods.

“Mark Green’s resignation left a critical seat open in our fight against drugs,” explained Blackburn, predicting an upcoming victory for Republican candidate Matt Van Epps in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. “This is why we must support our candidates.”

She characterized Democrat Aftyn Behn as a “self-described radical” who was out of step with Tennesseans and her campaign. “Ms. Behn represents everything we are trying to move away from,” stated Blackburn, referencing the candidate’s views on law enforcement, education policies, and cultural issues.

Turning to security concerns after the attacks on National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe last week in Washington D.C., Blackburn urged prayers for the injured guard member while emphasizing the need to protect military personnel nationwide. “We want to make certain that our guardsmen and women are going to be safe,” she stressed.

Blackburn also pointed to Memphis as a potential model for combating violent crime by breaking cycles of illegal activity across communities, not just in Tennessee but nationally against the influence of foreign narco-terrorism sources like Venezuela.