Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Reviews of Trump’s Military Actions

Lawmakers from both major parties have expressed support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes targeting vessels believed to be involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. This comes in response to a report published by the Washington Post, which detailed a verbal order allegedly issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate all crew members during a strike on September 2.

The report has sparked significant concern among lawmakers regarding the legality of such actions. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia remarked, “This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true.” Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, while acknowledging the seriousness of the claims, stated that Congress currently lacks information about the events surrounding the follow-up strikes. He noted that both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are actively investigating the matter.

Turner emphasized that the allegations regarding the September 2 attack are unprecedented in discussions with Congress, and he reiterated the importance of ensuring all military operations comply with legal standards. “Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” he affirmed.

The discussions among lawmakers coincide with the Trump administration’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking into the United States. On September 2, President Donald Trump declared that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed, a statement that has raised questions regarding U.S. relations with the Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro. Maduro’s administration responded by accusing Trump of issuing a “colonial threat” to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.

In light of the allegations, Hegseth took to social media to defend current operations, labeling the Washington Post’s report as “fake news.” He stated that all actions taken in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, asserting compliance with the law of armed conflict and approval from military and civilian legal experts.

On September 30, Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, respectively, issued a joint statement asserting that the committee will conduct thorough oversight to uncover the facts surrounding these military actions. Similarly, the House Armed Services Committee, led by Mike Rogers and ranking member Adam Smith, committed to ensuring rigorous scrutiny of the Department of Defense’s operations in the Caribbean.

In response to inquiries about the September 2 strike, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska stated that Hegseth should be given an opportunity to present his side of the story, adding, “We should get to the truth. I don’t think he would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, kill everybody, kill the survivors because that’s a clear violation of the law of war.”

The statements from lawmakers reflect a growing bipartisan concern regarding military operations and their potential legal implications. As investigations continue, the congressional committees are poised to gather comprehensive accounts of the operations in question. The developments highlight the delicate balance between military action and adherence to legal frameworks in the context of national security and drug trafficking.