Ros-Lehtinen embarks on second Honduras trip by GOP lawmakers

Several days after Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) lead a controversial congressional delegation trip to Honduras, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) on Monday departed on a similar journey.

The ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is opposed to the Obama administration's support of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. She announced the trip late last week.

Ros-Lehtinen tweeted that she would meet with Americans and officials ahead of the tumultuous nation's November 29 elections:

Off to Honduras to meet w/Americans in Honduras as well Honduran officials so that upcoming elections are free, fair and transparent.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) last week nearly blocked DeMint, along with GOP Reps. Peter Roskam Ill.), Aaron Schock (Ill.), and Doug Lamborn (Colo.), from traveling to Honduras last Friday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) intervened to approve the trip late Thursday night.

The feud stemmed from DeMint and Kerry's disagreement over the political crisis in the Central American nation. DeMint backs the de facto government lead by President Roberto Micheletti, which came to power after the military overthrew President Manuel Zelaya.

The military acted on orders from the Honduran Supreme Court, which accused Zelaya of attempting to change the constitution in part to eliminate term limits.

Kerry stands behind the U.S. government's endorsement of a negotiated settlement that would restore Zelaya to office with limited powers until his term expires in December. The de facto government has rejected that settlement while the U.S. has said it would not recognize the results of the contests next month.