Defense Department cites national security as lawmakers press for transparency…
The Pentagon will not publicly release the full, unedited video of a Sept. 2 U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday, calling the footage “top secret” and protected under longstanding national security policy.
After delivering a classified briefing to senators, Hegseth addressed questions about the release of sensitive material, stressing longstanding policy restrictions. “In keeping with long-standing Department of War policy, Department of Defense policy, of course, we’re not going to release a top-secret, full, unedited video of that to the general public,” he said. He added that while oversight would be maintained, access would be limited: “Appropriate committees will see it, but not the general [public].”
The decision comes amid growing bipartisan pressure from lawmakers seeking more information about an operation that has raised legal, moral, and political questions on Capitol Hill.
As Politico reports:
Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and top military officials spent Tuesday morning briefing the full Senate and House on the Trump administration’s efforts in Latin America. Lawmakers have expressed concern about the administration’s legal rationale for strikes that have killed more than 90 people, a military campaign that Congress has not authorized.
But while top leaders in both chambers have seen the footage, much of the House and Senate have not done so, including during Tuesday’s closed-door briefing.
“The administration came to this briefing empty-handed,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has pushed for the entire chamber to view the attack. “And if they can’t be transparent on this, how can you trust their transparency on all the other issues swirling about in the Caribbean? Every senator is entitled to see it.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon (Neb.), an Armed Services Committee member, argued after the House briefing that the Pentagon should release the video “to the public,” although he expressed support for the administration’s actions against drug groups. Members of the Senate and House Armed Services panels will view the video Wednesday.
The Pentagon has described the operations as lawful and necessary to disrupt narcotics networks operating in international waters.
Critics, including some lawmakers and legal experts, argue that the footage could raise serious questions about compliance with the laws of armed conflict. Several members of Congress have said releasing the unedited video is necessary to determine whether the follow-up strike was justified. Hegseth, however, remained firm, stopping short of promising broader access for other lawmakers or the public.
Earlier this week, the Pentagon chief signaled he was weighing whether to release the video as pressure from Congress continued to build.
Lawmakers have also turned to legislative pressure. Language in the must-pass annual defense policy bill would withhold part of Hegseth’s Pentagon travel budget unless unedited footage is provided to key oversight committees.
Supporters of the provision say it is aimed at enforcing accountability, not undermining military operations.
Bottom Line
Despite mounting pressure on Capitol Hill, the Pentagon under Hegseth is refusing to release the unedited, classified video of September’s boat strike — fueling new demands for transparency as a controversial U.S. military operation continues to escalate.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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you can not have full transparency in some military matters it can not be done and protect the troops. Loose lips sink ships is a solid saying.
my momma always told me, “Son ya dont negociate with cock roachs for space in the kitchen, ya kill em dead and be done wiht it!” it always seemed to work for her, trouble is we’ve lost our sense of survival , we swapped it out for a kinder gentler nation of woosie’s and pimps of the liberalistic progressive form, too bad for us.
Transparency does not include the investigative methodology nor the release of information that would expose informant.
In which war did we publically report all actions in video and plaster all about it? Hummmm, none. Ya right, its called giving the enemy aid and comfort and is called treason. Maybe the media IS the problem here.