Republican Senator accuses Hegseth of either lying about second boat strike or being incompetent

Republican Senator Rand Paul criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, accusing him of either being dishonest or unaware about a follow-up US military strike on a suspected drug boat in September. Paul stated at the US Capitol, Secretary Hegseth claimed he had no knowledge and said it didnt occur. The next day, officials from the White House confirmed it happened. Either he was lying or he was unaware.

Paul questioned the possibility that the Secretary of Defense could be unaware of a second strike and expressed concern about allowing false statements to go unchallenged. When asked by CNN about Hegseth's remarks, Paul referenced a social media post where Hegseth called news reports about the strike fabricated and inflammatory, without directly denying the operation.

Hegseth appears to have shifted responsibility to Admiral Mitch Bradley but defended the admiral's combat decisions in a later post. The Pentagon cited both posts in response to CNN inquiries.

The so-called double-tap strike has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and military legal experts, raising questions about legality and potential war crimes. President Donald Trump said neither he nor Hegseth were aware of the follow-up strike. Hegseth noted that strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean are ongoing.

Paul, who has opposed unauthorized military action in the Caribbean and Venezuela, accused Hegseth of trying to shift blame to Bradley. Political leaders should not finger military personnel, Paul said. Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Mark Kelly echoed these concerns, calling the blame shift unacceptable and questioning leadership accountability.

Senator Thom Tillis emphasized that whoever ordered the second strike should face consequences, describing the action as a breach of ethical and legal standards. Kelly defended Bradleys reputation and argued the strikes reflect a culture encouraged by Trump and Hegseth.

Prior reports indicate Hegseth instructed the military to ensure the strike killed everyone on board, though it remains unclear if he knew of survivors before the second strike. Paul expressed serious concerns about Hegseths ability to serve as defense secretary and criticized selective briefing practices that exclude skeptical lawmakers.

Paul, alongside Democratic senators, announced a joint statement promising a War Powers resolution to block US military action in Venezuela. He noted increasing Republican concern over Pentagon operations in the Caribbean, particularly regarding follow-up strikes against stranded individuals at sea.

Senator Jack Reed called for more transparency, emphasizing the need to determine the legality of the operation and possible criminal implications. Paul also highlighted a Coast Guard letter indicating that 21% of boarded boats contained no drugs, questioning the rationale for strikes.

Conversely, GOP Senator Bernie Moreno defended the follow-up strike as justified in a wartime context, framing the boats as deliberately endangering American citizens.

Reporters DJ Judd and Adam Cancryn contributed to this coverage.

Author: Sophia Brooks