Lawmakers from both parties remain concerned about the September 2 boat strikes near Venezuela, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's account of his involvement in the incident has changed. The deadly incidents have raised questions about the US military's actions and response to the situation.
The change in Hegseth's story comes amid growing scrutiny over the administration's handling of the crisis. The Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the issue, where lawmakers will seek more clarity on what really happened.
Hegseth's initial account described him as being "in command" of the operation and making decisions in real-time, but he later revised his statement to say that he was not directly involved. The discrepancy has raised questions about Hegseth's credibility and the administration's transparency.
The incident has also sparked debate over the US military's role in Venezuela and its relations with the country. Some lawmakers have called for tougher sanctions against Venezuela and greater support for Venezuelan opposition groups, while others have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of military intervention.
As the situation continues to unfold, lawmakers are working to gather more information and understand the full extent of what happened on September 2. The changing story from Hegseth adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue, highlighting the need for clear communication and transparency from those in power.
In a related development, CBS News has obtained documents showing that Hegseth had been briefed on the operation before it took place, contradicting his earlier claims of ignorance. The revelation raises further questions about the administration's knowledge of the incident and its response to it.
The September 2 boat strikes are just the latest in a series of incidents involving US military personnel in Venezuela. The situation has sparked tensions between the US and Venezuela, with both sides accusing each other of aggression.
The change in Hegseth's story comes amid growing scrutiny over the administration's handling of the crisis. The Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the issue, where lawmakers will seek more clarity on what really happened.
Hegseth's initial account described him as being "in command" of the operation and making decisions in real-time, but he later revised his statement to say that he was not directly involved. The discrepancy has raised questions about Hegseth's credibility and the administration's transparency.
The incident has also sparked debate over the US military's role in Venezuela and its relations with the country. Some lawmakers have called for tougher sanctions against Venezuela and greater support for Venezuelan opposition groups, while others have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of military intervention.
As the situation continues to unfold, lawmakers are working to gather more information and understand the full extent of what happened on September 2. The changing story from Hegseth adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue, highlighting the need for clear communication and transparency from those in power.
In a related development, CBS News has obtained documents showing that Hegseth had been briefed on the operation before it took place, contradicting his earlier claims of ignorance. The revelation raises further questions about the administration's knowledge of the incident and its response to it.
The September 2 boat strikes are just the latest in a series of incidents involving US military personnel in Venezuela. The situation has sparked tensions between the US and Venezuela, with both sides accusing each other of aggression.
I'm low-key worried about this whole thing... Like, what's going on here? First, Hegseth says he's all over it, then he pulls a 180 and says he wasn't even there. It just doesn't add up 
. And now we're finding out that he was briefed on the op before it happened? That's some shady stuff right there 
. The more I think about it, the more I'm like... what are they hiding? 
Can't trust a single thing from this administration at this point 
.
: When you're trying to keep your story straight but it's already sinking like the boat in Venezuela 
... I mean Pete Hegseth changes his story like, what's the big deal? It's not like he's hiding something super scandalous here 
... I mean, come on, people need to chill out a bit 
.
Like Pete Hegseth's story changes like 3 times already?! How can u trust him now?! 
They need 2 know wht really went down & how the military is handling situations like this. It's not just about Venezuela, it's about accountability! 
And what about those documents from CBS News showing he got briefed beforehand? That seems like a pretty big discrepancy. 
. First he says he's in command, then suddenly says he wasn't even there... wut is goin on?! 
The administration needs to get its story straight ASAP 
. We need transparency, not secrecy 
. And what about those sanctions against Venezuela? Shouldn't we be focusin' on diplomacy over more aggression? 
. The US military needs to do better, and we need better communication from our leaders. Let's keep the pressure on and demand answers! 
#VenezuelaCrisis #TransparencyMatters #MilitaryAccountability
but then I started thinking about how our internet speeds in the US are so slow compared to places like South Korea or Japan 
What were they thinking?! The whole situation is so messed up and I don't think anyone knows what really went down. We need answers ASAP, you know? 
it's like he's trying to spin something or cover his tracks or what? 
i mean, why did hedseth change his story in the first place? did he realize there was something he didn't want to admit? 
... I mean, what was he thinking initially? And why did his story change so suddenly? It makes you wonder if there's more to the story than we're being told 
. And now we've got these documents showing he was briefed on the operation beforehand - that's just shady 
... it raises a lot of questions about what really went down and who knew what, when. I think lawmakers have every right to be upset about this and want more answers 
...