The defense secretary is doing everything he can to avoid blame for the September 2 boat strikes that have been likened to a "war crime."

Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez stood by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a report claiming that he ordered that all members aboard an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean be killed, alleged actions that prompted Democrats to say he may have committed war crimes.

The Pentagon is facing intensifying scrutiny over the 2 September 2025 strike near Venezuelan waters, as congressional lawmakers and military-law experts question whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to distance himself from the decision to kill survivors of a destroyed vessel and shift responsibility onto Admiral Frank M.

GOP-led committees are looking into a report alleging Hegseth gave an order to "kill everybody" aboard a boat.

Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, the Navy SEAL at the center of the Sept. 2 strikes on an alleged drug-running boat, rose through ranks to lead all U.S. special operators.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis rejected Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that a review by the Pentagon's Inspector General of the incident known as Signalgate is a complete "exoneration" of his actions.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was already facing questions for his role in the September 2 strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Then on Thursday, a Pentagon report dropped that says he risked a United States bombing mission in Yemen when he shared classified plans on Signal.

A rumor that circulated online in October 2025 claimed (archived) zookeeper and conservationist Robert Irwin filed a $60 million lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to the story, Irwin sued Hegseth following an "explosive on ...

The White House placed the decision to launch a second, follow-up Sept. 2 strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea at the feet of the commander overseeing the operation from Fort Bragg,

But many also sounded exasperated that once again they were dealing with controversy sparked by Bradley’s boss, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. And after 10 months of turbulence under Hegseth’s leadership,