Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sought unedited military footage from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday regarding a September 2 strike on a drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.
The request followed recent public reporting and political debate surrounding U.S. operations targeting narcotics traffickers in the region.
The Trump administration previously ordered a strike on a drug boat originating from Venezuela.
The operation was described as the first in a series of actions in the Caribbean Sea that have resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 drug traffickers and reduced the flow of narcotics toward the United States.
Questions intensified after a November 29 Washington Post report falsely stated that Hegseth had ordered troops to “kill everybody” on board targeted vessels and had authorized a second strike to eliminate survivors clinging to the wreckage.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) said the conduct described in the reporting was “blatantly illegal,” adding, “Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”
The idea that wreckage from one small boat in a vast ocean is a hazard to marine traffic is patently absurd, and killing survivors is blatantly illegal. Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder. https://t.co/99V90h8eb7
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) November 28, 2025
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Speaking to reporters ahead of the closed-door briefing, Schumer said he intended to ask Hegseth directly “exactly what the h*ll is going on in the Caribbean” and stated he would request “the total unedited videos of what happened in the September 2 boat strikes.”
🚨 BREAKING: A furious Chuck Schumer says he’s about to STORM up to SecWar Pete Hegseth and “DEMAND” answers about why they’re taking out narco-terrorists trying to kill Americans
“I plan to CONFRONT Secretary Hegseth on exactly what the HELL is going on in the Caribbean!”
“I… pic.twitter.com/HWCUHKZ64O
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 9, 2025
During the briefing, Schumer asked Hegseth whether Congress would be granted access to the unedited footage.
Hegseth did not commit to releasing the videos, according to Schumer’s account following the meeting.
“Okay, it was a very unsatisfying briefing,” Schumer said afterward.
“I asked Secretary of Defense Hegseth whether he would let every member of Congress see the unedited videos of the September 2 strike.
His answer: ‘We have to study it.’ Well, in my view, they have studied it long enough! Congress ought to be able to see it.”
Schumer continued, “I told him that every member of Congress had a right to see it, wanted to see it, and should see it. Did not get satisfying answers at all.”
🚨 JUST IN: Tough guy Chuck Schumer STORMS out of briefing with SecWar Pete Hegseth after threatening to “confront” Hegseth on the narco-strikes…
…he came up EMPTY HANDED and is disappointed 🤣
“OK. It was a VERY unsatisfying briefing. I asked Secretary of Defense Hegseth… https://t.co/ySgkYrZiDe pic.twitter.com/Agk1rfuEOK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 9, 2025
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