Republican Sen. Rand Paul said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should testify "under oath" about the second strike against an alleged drug boat in September that has landed him in hot water.
Speaking to press after seeing the footage of the strike, Paul said he also thinks "the video of the distressed, shipwrecked or incapacitated people on those boats being bombed, that video should be shown to every American."
Other lawmakers have also expressed dismay about the images. Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the party's top lawmaker on the House Intelligence Committee, said he was stunned after the briefing. He added that Admiral Mitch Bradley, who took part in the episode, has a storied career and he has my respect and he should have the respect of all of us."
However, he went on to say that "what I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things that I've seen in my time in public service."
"You have two individuals in clear distress, without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel, who were killed by the United States," he added.
Hegseth, who has been under intense scrutiny since reports about the second strike surfaced, has said he didn't stay after the first one, but defended the legality of the second one and said the decision was made by Bradley.
However, previous reports had noted that Pentagon officials are concerned that the Trump administration is throwing Bradley under the bus. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that Bradley "worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed."
The statement, the outlet added, left Defense Department officials angry at the possibility that Hegseth won't take responsibility for any legal consequence that could stem from the attack. "This is 'protect Pete' bullsh-t," one official told the outlet. Some civilian staff are considering leaving the administration, it added.
Paul has previously slammed Hegseth over the different explanations given about the episode. Paul said earlier this week that it seems like the administration is "trying to pin the blame" for the potential consequences of the follow-on attack on "somebody else."
"Hegseth said he had no knowledge of this and it did not happen, that it was fake news and didn't happen. And then the next day, from the podium at the White House, they're saying it did happen," Paul said.
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