CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN LEADS HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS IN DEMANDING SECRETARY HEGSETH IMMEDIATELY RELEASE FOOTAGE OF CARIBBEAN FOLLOW-ON STRIKES TO PUBLIC
Congressman Pat Ryan Leads House Armed Services Committee Democrats in Demanding Secretary Hegseth Immediately Release Footage of Caribbean Follow-on Strikes to Public
Congressman Ryan is leading 19 House Armed Services Committee Democrats in demanding any audio and/or visual footage be released to the public; President Trump himself has said the video should be released
Only eight Representatives have seen the footage, which shows a secondary kinetic strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean to kill two survivors clinging to the wreck
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes called the footage “one of the most troubling things” he has seen as a lawmaker, asserting that the survivors “were not in the position to continue their mission in any way”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan is leading 19 House Armed Services Committee Democrats in demanding that the Department of Defense release any audio and/or visual footage of controversial follow-on strikes in the Caribbean on September 2nd, 2025.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reported to have given the order to “kill everyone” aboard an alleged drug-trafficking boat coming from Venezuela. Additional strikes were ordered on the already-inoperable vessel, aimed at killing two survivors clinging to the wreckage.
Only eight Representatives have seen the footage, which shows additional kinetic strikes on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean to kill two survivors clinging to the wreck.
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes called the footage “one of the most troubling things” he has seen as a lawmaker, asserting that the survivors “were not in the position to continue their mission in any way.”
“Our request is straightforward, and squarely within our oversight duties and authorities as Members of Congress. Release all video, audio, transcripts, after-action reviews – everything – to the public immediately,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “President Trump himself has said the video should be released. The American people deserve transparency, and we will fight until they get it.”
The letter to Secretary Hegseth was signed by:
- Representative Wesley Bell
- Representative Gilbert Cisneros
- Representative Herbert Conaway
- Representative Joe Courtney
- Representative Jason Crow
- Representative Chris Deluzio
- Representative Sarah Elfreth
- Representative John Garamendi
- Representative Chrissy Houlahan
- Representative Sara Jacobs
- Representative Ro Khanna
- Representative Seth Moulton
- Representative Donald Norcross
- Representative Patrick Ryan
- Representative Eric Sorensen
- Representative Marilyn Strickland
- Representative Jill Tokuda
- Representative Derek Tran
- Representative Eugene Vindman
A copy of Ryan’s letter to Secretary Hegseth is included below:
Dear Secretary Hegseth,
We write to request that you release all audio and video footage from the kinetic strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean on September 2, 2025, including the follow-on strikes.
Our concern stems from reports that you, as Secretary of Defense, issued an order to “kill everybody,” followed by additional strikes seeking to kill the two remaining unarmed, shipwrecked individuals.
The American people deserve transparency on these attacks; it is your obligation to release the footage. We look forward to your prompt response and release of this footage to the public, as has already been promised by President Trump.
Sincerely,
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