US Senate demands releasing tape of strike on drug smugglers

2025-12-09 08:22:25

(MENAFN) US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday renewed his demand that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth release the full, unedited footage of a second strike on suspected drug smugglers off Venezuela. Schumer warned that Congress may withhold a significant portion of Hegseth’s Pentagon travel budget until the video is provided, citing the public’s right to transparency.

The September 2 strike is under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that two survivors clinging to wreckage may have been killed. Last week, only select members of Congress viewed the footage in a closed session.

The House of Representatives introduced a $901 billion defense policy bill, which includes a provision to freeze a quarter of Hegseth’s travel funds until the Armed Services committees receive the unedited footage of strikes under the U.S. Southern Command.

President Donald Trump said Monday he would defer to Hegseth on whether to release the full video, stepping back from earlier remarks promising disclosure. Hegseth, speaking at a forum in California over the weekend, declined to confirm if the footage would be made public.

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