Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro faces narcotics charges after U.S. military operation, while Sen. Chuck Schumer and Democrats criticize Trump administration for not notifying Congress.

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Jack Smith, the former Justice Department special counsel who brought two now-dropped criminal cases against U.S. President Donald Trump, said that the Republican had acknowledged to others that he lost the 2020 election against former President Joe Biden, according to a transcript of a testimony by Smith.

President Trump, who returned to the White House to serve a second nonconsecutive term by winning the 2024 election, again claimed election "rigged."

Former special counsel Jack Smith defended his decision to bring charges twice against President Donald Trump -- telling lawmakers in a closed-door deposition earlier this month that his team "had proof beyond reasonable doubt in both cases" that Trump was guilty of the charges in the 2020 election interference and classified documents cases.

During his first term, he publicly suggested delaying the 2020 election, despite lacking the authority to do so. More recently, in a meeting in August with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump appeared to voice approval of Ukraine’s ban on elections under martial law, prompting laughter in the room but alarm among his critics.

Chuck Schumer blasted Trump's "lawlessness" in arresting Nicolás Maduro on Sunday — but he ripped the president in 2020 for not bringing democracy to Venezuela

More actions are expected, including possible payments to compensate Jan. 6 defendants, as the White House launches a webpage dedicated to Trump's claims.

In case you forgot: In 2020, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order looking to ban TikTok in the United States; and now in 2025, it is being left up to him to “save” the platform. RELATED: President Joe Biden Decides Not To Enforce ...

President Trump is still sowing doubt about the integrity of America’s elections. The claims could affect this year’s midterms.

President Donald Trump may be worried about the House GOP losing the upcoming midterm elections later this year.