WASHINGTON D.C.- A group of Democratic representatives, led by Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) are calling on the Department of War to publicly release audio and video recordings from a series of military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean earlier this year.
In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers called for full transparency surrounding the September 2, 2025, operation, including what they described as “follow-on strikes” after the initial engagement. The letter cites reports alleging that Secretary Hegseth issued an order to “kill everybody” and that military forces targeted two shipwrecked survivors following the attack.
“The American people deserve transparency on these attacks,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that President Donald Trump had already pledged to make the footage public.
The group argues that releasing the recordings is necessary both to clarify the sequence of events and to determine whether military actions complied with domestic and international law. Ryan and the other signatories say they want the footage made available not only to Congress but also to the general public.
Pentagon officials, however, have countered that the reports referenced in the letter are inaccurate and that the military acted within established rules of engagement.
A Department of War spokesperson has said in recent days that the operation targeted vessels believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking and that military personnel responded to what they assessed as an active threat. The Pentagon has also suggested that releasing all operational footage could compromise intelligence methods, ongoing counter-trafficking missions, and the safety of service members.
Supporters of the military’s position argue that commanders often must make rapid decisions based on limited information and that public release of raw footage can be misleading without proper context. They also point out that internal reviews of overseas operations are standard and that any substantiated misconduct would be addressed through existing military justice channels.
Meanwhile, civil liberties groups have echoed Ryan’s call, saying transparency is important in cases involving potential loss of life. As of this week, Secretary Hegseth has not said whether the full footage will be released.
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