1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela. These actions, which have resulted in dozens of deaths since early September, raise serious questions about transparency, legality, and our nation's commitment to due process. The briefing provided by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to congressional leaders, while a step towards transparency, falls short of addressing the grave concerns surrounding these operations. The lack of public explanation and evidence supporting these strikes is deeply troubling. As your constituent, I urge you to demand full disclosure of the intelligence and legal justification behind these actions. The administration's claim that these boats were carrying cocaine, not fentanyl, does not mitigate the severity of conducting lethal strikes without clear legal authority or public oversight. These actions have not only increased tensions with Venezuela and Colombia but also risk damaging our partnerships throughout Latin America. Moreover, they undermine public confidence in our government's adherence to international law and respect for human rights. I am particularly alarmed by the potential for these strikes to result in the extrajudicial killing of individuals who may be fishermen or other civilians, rather than drug traffickers. The lack of transparency makes it impossible for the public to verify the accuracy of target selection or the necessity of lethal force. As my representative, I urge you to take immediate action. Please work to: 1. Halt these military strikes until their legality and necessity can be independently verified. 2. Demand a full, public congressional hearing on the justification, execution, and consequences of these operations. 3. Ensure that any future actions against alleged drug trafficking are conducted with full transparency, adherence to international law, and respect for human rights. The integrity of our nation's foreign policy and our standing in the international community are at stake. We must not allow secretive military actions to erode the principles of justice and due process that our country stands for. Your leadership on this issue is crucial to restoring faith in our government's commitment to lawful and ethical conduct in the fight against drug trafficking.