1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am deeply troubled by the recent Washington Post report detailing a disturbing military operation in the Caribbean ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in September 2025. The allegations that Secretary Hegseth commanded forces to "kill everybody" during an attack on boats suspected of drug trafficking are not only shocking but potentially constitute a war crime, murder, or both. The reported execution of two survivors clinging to wreckage after an attack is a clear violation of international law and our nation's moral standards. As Todd Huntley, a former military lawyer who advised special operations, stated, "Even if the U.S. were at war with the traffickers, an order to kill all the boat's occupants if they were no longer able to fight 'would in essence be an order to show no quarter, which would be a war crime.'" This incident demands immediate and thorough congressional oversight. I urge you to push for a full investigation into these allegations. Our military personnel must be able to trust that the orders they receive are lawful and ethical. The reported actions, if true, undermine the integrity of our armed forces and our standing in the international community. Furthermore, this incident raises serious questions about the current administration's approach to drug trafficking and border security. While these are critical issues, they must be addressed within the bounds of law and human rights. Extrajudicial killings and disregard for due process are unacceptable methods for combating crime, no matter how serious. I strongly request that you take immediate action to: 1. Call for a congressional hearing on this matter. 2. Demand a full, independent investigation into Secretary Hegseth's actions and the chain of command involved in this operation. Additionally, I want to know whether the president was aware of this decision- he should be aware of this action and if he was aware, he is also culpable. If he wasn’t aware, he still has responsibility in this matter, because it bears the question- why wasn’t he aware and why is the SECDEF making sole decisions like this on his own. 3. Ensure that our military personnel are properly trained to recognize and refuse illegal orders. The integrity of our nation's defense and our commitment to the rule of law are at stake. We must act swiftly to address these allegations and prevent any future occurrences of such egregious violations. Our response to this incident will define our values as a nation and our respect for international law. This could be a war crime, murder, or both - an impeachable offense and human rights violations- The Hague level offense.