Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee are pressing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to release video of U.S. military strikes on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat that have inflamed tensions on Capitol Hill.
Why it matters: The lawmakers are seizing on to President Trump's own comments this week that he would have "no problem" releasing the footage to the public.
- "We look forward to your prompt response and release of this footage to the public, as has already been promised by President Trump," the lawmakers, led by Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter to Hegseth that was obtained by Axios.
- "The American people deserve transparency on these attacks," they wrote, "it is your obligation to release the footage."
State of play: Congressional Democrats have been up in arms since the Washington Post reported last week that Hegseth authorized a second strike to finish off survivors of an initial strike in the Caribbean.
- Hegseth and the White House have denied the reporting, saying the follow-up strike was made by Admiral Frank Bradley.
- Numerous Democratic lawmakers have dismissed those claims and called for Hegseth to resign, with one even introducing articles of impeachment.
Zoom in: Members of Congress were given an opportunity to view video of the operation on Thursday.
- Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said after viewing the video that the targeted survivors were in "clear distress" and "without any means of locomotion."
- "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service," Himes said.
What they're saying: "We write to request that you release all audio and video footage from the kinetic strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean on September 2, 2025, including the follow-on strikes," the Democrats wrote in their letter.
- "Our concern stems from reports that you, as Secretary of Defense, issued an order to 'kill everybody,' followed by additional strikes seeking to kill the two remaining unarmed, shipwrecked individuals."
- The letter was signed by 19 of the 27 Democrats on the Armed Services Committee. Ryan's office told Axios they reached out to Republicans as well, but none signed.
- The Pentagon didn't respond to a request for comment on the letter.
