The Denver Post: Colorado leaders react to U.S. attack on Iran: ‘A war of choice’
Several of Colorado’s top elected officials called for congressional intervention hours after the U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran, with the state’s federal delegation reacting largely along party lines, either supporting or decrying Saturday’s military action by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump called on the Iranian people to “seize control of your destiny” as strikes hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Trump and Israeli officials said was killed in the attack. Iran did not immediately confirm Khamenei’s death.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Jason Crow, Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen and Diana DeGette and Sen. Michael Bennet all released statements calling for Congress to vote on a war powers resolution.
“Trump is plunging us into another war in the Middle East. He’s learned nothing from decades of failed conflicts,” Crow said. “It’s a war of choice with no clear end game, no authorization from Congress and little support from Americans.”
Bennet, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he has seen no new information to suggest Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon is more imminent.
Sen. John Hickenlooper, also a Democrat, criticized Trump for bypassing his congressional duty to seek Congress’ approval for operations in Iran, describing it as a “calculated distraction” from the economy, immigration issues and unreleased files regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“While we would certainly welcome the fall of Iran’s terror-sponsoring and repressive regime, the president’s reckless approach leaves us facing profound, unanswered questions about the new dangers he has unleashed,” Hickenlooper said.
Republican U.S. Reps. Gabe Evans, Jeff Hurd and Jeff Crank all shared statements supporting combat operations and highlighting Iran’s attacks on Americans, links to terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“Operation Epic Fury is a necessary step to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities, eliminate imminent threats to the United States and our allies and defend our core national security interests,” Evans said.
Evans also called on Hickenlooper and Bennet to pass a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which both senators opposed in the wake of federal agents fatally shooting Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
Crank, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said Khamenei’s reported death will avoid “a prolonged conflict that would have killed many Americans.”
“What comes next is just as important. The Iranian people must have a voice in deciding their next leader, and the surviving members of the dictatorship must be hunted down and brought to justice,” he said.
Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert did not explicitly acknowledge the attack, posting on X that she is “praying for safety for our service members and wisdom for our leaders.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.