This story was first published at Colorado Newsline.
DENVER | U.S. Rep. Jason Crow called for the public release of unedited video footage of a U.S. strike in September on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, saying he saw “no justification” for a follow-up strike that killed two survivors clinging to boat wreckage.
“I believe this was an unlawful second strike,” Crow told reporters Wednesday after the U.S. House Armed Services Committee reviewed unedited footage of the strike. “I saw no justification for why a second strike needed to be taken, and I think it was a violation of the law.”
Crow and U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Springs Republican, serve on the committee. After seeing the full video of the strike, Crank said in a statement he has “full faith that they were carried out in accordance with the law.”
A report by The Washington Post revealed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave verbal orders to kill everyone on the boat during the Sept. 2 operation. The U.S. Senate and House Armed Services committees opened inquiries into the legality of the strikes earlier this month, and some Democrats and legal experts have said the killings could constitute a war crime.
Crow, an Aurora Democrat who is an Army combat veteran, “vehemently” disagrees with the decision to launch a second strike. He said the remaining “obviously stranded” survivors “were not capable of threatening our service members.”
Crow said he’s seen “no rationale” why the Trump administration cannot release the video. He said it’s important for the public to see the video and “make their own determination.”
“Much like the Epstein files, that I’ve been calling for the release for many, many months, why don’t we just release the video and people can see for themselves?” Crow said. “It really speaks volumes, which is why it’s important that the cover-up of this administration should stop.”
A group of Democrats in Congress with military and intelligence experience, including Crow, in November said in a video that members of the military and intelligence community can and must refuse illegal orders from the Trump administration. The Department of Defense is investigating U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly for his involvement, and the FBI has requested interviews with others in the video, including Crow.
President Donald Trump said in posts on Truth Social that their words were seditious and punishable by death. He also shared a post calling for them to be hanged.
I have yet to hear any expert on maritime law who has seen what was done in this strike who said anything but that it was flagrantly unlawful.
Had this happened on U.S. land, it would be the same offense: Murder.
I thought we were supposed to be the good guys.