Admiral denies ‘kill them all’ order as lawmakers split on ‘troubling’ strike footage
Navy Admiral Frank Bradley told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not give an order to "kill them all" during a U.S. military operation that targeted an alleged drug-smuggling boat off the coast of Venezuela.
During a closed-door briefing Thursday, Admiral Bradley, alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, detailed the Sept. 2 operation, including the follow-up strikes that killed two survivors. Lawmakers remained divided after viewing video footage of the attack.
Democrat Rep. Jim Himes, of Connecticut, expressed deep concern, "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service."
In contrast, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, stated, "I didn't see anything disturbing about it. What's disturbing to me is that millions of Americans have died of drugs being run through America by these cartels."
Lawmakers reported that Admiral Bradley clarified that four total strikes were conducted, resulting in 11 deaths.
Rep. Himes described the situation, "You have two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, were killed by the United States." Sen. Cotton countered, "I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat, load it with drugs bound for the United States, back over so they could stay in the fight."
The White House has defended the operation as legal. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump expressed willingness to release the video footage to the public. "I don't know what they have, but whatever they have, we'd certainly release, no problem," the president said.
Senior lawmakers are still seeking documents, intelligence, and video evidence to assess the legality of the strikes. Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have opened investigations into this matter.
Meanwhile, a Pentagon Inspector General report revealed that Secretary Hegseth used his personal phone and a Signal chat to share sensitive details about a U.S. strike in Yemen, potentially putting troops at risk.
The secretary responded on social media, "No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed. Houthis bombed into submission." Lawmakers argued that a lower-ranking officer would have faced discipline for similar actions.
Follow other Washington News Bureau coverage:
