Some Republicans seek answers from Trump administration about attacks in Venezuela

(Patria) - Some Republicans in Congress have expressed concern about U.S. military actions off the coast of Venezuela and joined Democrats in promising to investigate multiple attacks on a ship, although there was no information on Monday about any briefings or hearings, Reuters reported.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed yesterday that there were two attacks on a ship in early September, saying they were in accordance with the law and were approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a few days after some members of Congress said the second attack, aimed at killing survivors, may have been illegal.

The attacks on ships are the second issue in one week to draw objections from Republicans, who have otherwise strongly supported almost all policy initiatives of President Donald Trump since the start of his second term in January.

Last week, several Republican lawmakers criticized the White House for its handling of a proposed peace plan for Ukraine that they said favors Russia.

The latest concern came after the Washington Post reported on Friday that Hegseth had "given a verbal directive" to kill everyone on one of the ships.

Hegseth denied ordering second strike

Hegseth vehemently denied ordering the second strike. On social media, he called such reports "fabricated, inflammatory, and defamatory." Trump said he would look into the matter but had "100 percent" confidence in Hegseth when he said he did not order the attack.

Two congressional committees, led by Republicans, that oversee the Pentagon said they would investigate the reports. On Friday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the committee, said they would conduct "vigorous oversight."

Their counterparts on the House Armed Services panel, Chairman Republican Mike Rogers of Alabama and top Democrat Adam Smith of Washington, said they took the reports seriously and were taking bipartisan action to get the full picture.

Leavitt said at a White House briefing that Hegseth spoke over the weekend with some members of Congress "who may have been concerned."

On Monday, Democratic and Republican congressional leaders said they expect a bipartisan investigation into the incident. "I'm glad that the appropriate committee of jurisdiction, the Armed Services oversight committee, will examine those facts. We'll see where that leads," Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota told reporters.

Illegal act?

Some Republicans joined Democrats in saying that if the allegations are true, the second attack could be illegal.

"Obviously, if that happened, it would be very serious, and I agree that it would be an illegal act," said Representative Mike Turner of Ohio, a former chairman of the Intelligence Committee, on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky stated on social media that "it is not permitted, under the laws and customs of honorable warfare, to order that no quarter be given - to apply deadly force to those who surrender or who are wounded, shipwrecked, or otherwise unable to fight."

Paul, along with Democrats, proposed legislation to curb Trump's campaign against Venezuela, but it was blocked by members of his own party.

Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii proposed on social media that Hegseth testify in December, before Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, the comprehensive annual law that sets Pentagon policy.

Democrats and several Republicans have questioned the policy of attacking what could be fishing boats, killing all or most of the passengers on board, instead of stopping them and questioning the passengers.

U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 attacks on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people as Trump escalates a military buildup against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

In November, Senate Republicans blocked a resolution that would have prevented Trump from attacking Venezuelan territory without congressional approval. Only two Trump Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the measure, showing party support for the military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

In October, Senate Republicans blocked a resolution that would have stopped attacks on ships.