Senator Mark Kelly sharply questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a tense Senate hearing, accusing the Pentagon of withholding the full, unedited video of U.S. boat strikes near Venezuela.

Kelly pressed Hegseth on why only an edited clip has been released to the public, arguing that missing footage could show whether U.S. forces properly followed rules of engagement, correctly identified the target, and avoided civilian harm. Hegseth declined to release the full video, citing operational security and classified concerns, and maintained the strike was lawful.

Kelly countered that the Pentagon is effectively asking Americans to “trust us” on life-and-death military decisions, warning that selective releases undermine transparency, accountability, and congressional oversight.


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