Welcome back from the holiday weekend. The big story today is the major bipartisan backlash Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing over reportedly ordering everyone on board an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean to be killed. Some lawmakers say it may have amounted to a war crime.
What happened?: The Washington Post published reporting on Friday that Hegseth had issued an order to "kill everybody" on board a boat in the Caribbean that was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were on board on the vessel and only two survived, found "clinging to the smoldering wreck." To comply with Hegseth's directive, the Special Operations commander, who was in charge of the military operation, then conducted a second strike to kill the two survivors, who were then "blown apart in the water." 🔎 Read the Washington Post report that started this scrutiny
🔎 And read CNN's reporting on the second strike
This is a big deal: Several lawmakers, including Democrats and one senator Republican in Congress, raised alarm bells over the second strike potentially being a war crime. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Sunday it is "very possible" the follow-up strike was a war crime. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said if the allegations are true, it would be a "clear violation of the law of war."
Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chair and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, vowed to conduct "vigorous oversight" into the matter.
President Trump said he would look into the allegations against Hegseth, though he said he has complete confidence in his defense secretary. He also said he wouldn't have ordered the second strike on the boat.
What has Hegseth said about it?: Hegseth called the report "fake news," though he didn't directly refute the order to "kill everybody." He then made a joke about the report, posting a mock title of a children's book that reads, "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists." 🔎 See Hegseth's joke
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