Rep. Garamendi Calls for Public Hearing on Hegseth’s Alleged War Crimes

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, called for public hearings with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to address the Department of Defense’s actions in Venezuela and its ongoing military strikes off the country’s coast, including allegations that he violated domestic and international law by ordering forces to “kill them all."

“I am demanding that Hegseth and all those responsible for these strikes come before Congress and testify in front of the American people. For months, I have raised serious concerns about the administration’s actions in the Caribbean, including the legality of these strikes and their potential to drag us into another war.

“Now, with recent reporting that Hegseth ordered our military to ‘kill’ survivors of an airstrike, it’s clear that the administration has a callous disregard for the rule of law. To be clear: If the reporting is accurate, Secretary Hegseth’s alleged orders directly violated U.S. law, international law, and the Department of Defense’s own Law of War Manual.

“I’ve had enough. We must have a full, open, and transparent hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. Anything less would be a disservice to the American people. If Hegseth believes his actions were lawful, he should not be afraid to explain himself to Congress in full view of the nation, instead of burying this potentially criminal activity in closed-door meetings.

“A closed-door classified briefing is not good enough for me, not good enough for the three million servicemembers who could be subjected to unlawful orders, and certainly not good enough for the 700,000 people I represent in Contra Costa and Solano Counties.

"If Trump and Hegseth can commit such horrific acts in peacetime, just think what they’ll do if they plunge us into another unnecessary war.”

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