US Defence Secretary Faces Congressional Probe Over Venezuela Boat Attack
Bipartisan outrage grows as Pete Hegseth refuses to release footage of deadly Venezuela raid.
Pete Hegseth, confirmed as Secretary of Defense by a single tie-breaking vote in January, is now fighting for his political survival after a September 2 special-operations strike off Venezuela spiraled into allegations of a war crime. U.S. forces hit a suspected drug-running go-fast boat with a Hellfire missile; when survivors jumped into the sea, a second missile was reportedly fired into the water on direct orders from the task-force commander, with Hegseth’s subsequent approval.
The Senate and House Armed Services Committees have opened formal investigations, marking a rare moment of congressional pushback against the Trump administration. Chairman Roger Wicker and ranking member Jack Reed jointly, along with House counterparts Mike Rogers and Adam Smith, have demanded classified briefings and the full, unedited gun-camera footage. Lawmakers warn the second strike may have violated the laws of armed conflict by targeting individuals who were hors de combat.
Hegseth has defended the action by invoking the “fog of war,” claiming infrared sensors showed no clear survivors amid explosions and burning fuel. Yet his earlier public pledges to replace “politically correct” rules of engagement with “maximum lethality” are now being cited as evidence that the incident reflects deliberate policy rather than battlefield error.
Also Read: For First Time in Eight Years, Pentagon Chief Visits Demilitarised Korean Border
Pressure is mounting from both parties. Democrats, led by Chris Van Hollen and Chuck Schumer, have called the episode an “extrajudicial killing” and renewed demands for Hegseth’s resignation. Several Republicans who backed his confirmation, including Thom Tillis and retired Brigadier General Don Bacon, have publicly questioned his judgment. President Trump and Vice President Vance continue to stand by him, but closed-door testimony next week from the admiral who authorized the second strike could determine whether congressional tolerance has reached its limit.
Also Read: Trump Says US Will Soon Launch Strikes Inside Venezuela, Escalating Anti-Drug Campaign
