1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I need you to launch an immediate investigation into President Trump's threats to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran, including desalination plants and power stations. These threats may constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law, and Congress has a constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable. Stephen J. Rapp, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, stated that threatening to attack desalination plants that millions depend on for drinking water "would definitely be a war crime. Not much question about that." Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, confirmed that even attacks on power plants are war crimes when the harm to civilians is clearly disproportionate to any military benefit. Under international law, civilian sites cannot be made the object of attack or reprisals, and Trump's stated justification of "retribution" does not meet legal standards. Trump's threats risk making America a rogue state and create what Rapp calls a "permission structure for others to threaten or commit similar crimes." The entire international community is watching. I expect you to use your oversight authority to investigate whether these threats violate U.S. obligations under international humanitarian law and to take appropriate action to prevent their execution.