Rep. Jim Himes Urges Release Of Classified Sept. 2 Strike Video, Raises Legal And Oversight Alarms

Rep. Jim Himes on the Classified Sept. 2 Strike Video

Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation (Dec. 7, 2025) that he and a small group of lawmakers viewed a classified video of U.S. strikes on an alleged drug-running vessel near Venezuela from Sept. 2. Himes said the footage left him deeply shaken and argued the tape should be released so the American public can judge what occurred.

Why Himes Wants the Video Public

Himes said roughly six or seven members of Congress were shown the classified footage and that reactions split sharply along party lines. Drawing on his experience reviewing combat footage in terrorism contexts, he described the imagery as stark: he said the video appears to show people clinging to debris and sinking, not actively engaging in hostilities. Himes emphasized that this factual detail matters legally — under the law of armed conflict, individuals not actively participating in hostilities are not lawful targets.

Disputed Pentagon Explanations

Brennan referenced the Department of Defense's law of war manual and played remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth describing why follow-up strikes were ordered. Hegseth said survivors might still have been 'in the fight,' that there were indications of radios and nearby boats, and that additional strikes were necessary.

Pete Hegseth: "A couple hours later, I was told, hey, there had to be a reattack, because there were a couple folks that could still be in the fight. Access to radios, there was a link up point of another potential boat, drugs were still there, they were actively interacting with them. Had to take that reattack."

Himes rejected Hegseth's account as inconsistent with what he saw. He said congressional briefings offered shifting explanations — first that wreckage had to be cleared for navigation, then that survivors might have radios and be signaling other vessels — but the video, he said, showed no radios and people barely clinging to life. He also disputed the claim that a follow-up strike was justified by the "fog of war," saying the military monitored the wreckage closely before the second strike.

On Admiral Bradley And Command Climate

Himes said he has no reason to doubt Admiral Bradley's personal integrity and noted Bradley's long career. But he warned that even a respected officer can be placed under intense pressure when civilian leadership signals that dissent could cost a career. Himes raised concerns about the broader leadership tone, saying that rhetoric minimizing legal restraints can influence operational choices.

Who Was Aboard The Vessel?

Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has asserted there were numerous JAG lawyers involved and said the 11 people aboard the suspected smuggling vessel were valid targets because of an assessment tying them to a foreign terrorist organization. Himes disputed that the committee knew the identities of all aboard and said there is no evidence the vessel carried high-level cartel leaders. He described the strikes as resembling "signature" operations — targeting a vessel because of behavior or cargo (drugs) rather than named, individually identified high-value targets.

Congressional Authorization And Policy Questions

Himes highlighted a key legal distinction from the Obama-era counterterrorism program: those campaigns operated under congressional authorizations for the use of military force and often targeted named high-value individuals. By contrast, Himes said, the administration appears to be treating suspected drug carriers as sufficient grounds for lethal strikes without an explicit congressional authorization for such a military campaign.

Signalgate And Operational Security Concerns

Brennan asked about "Signalgate," in which a Trump administration official added a journalist to a Signal group and shared advance operational information about a Yemen bombing. The Pentagon Inspector General found the action risked operational security and violated records rules; Hegseth reportedly said he would do it again. Himes said some Republican colleagues privately expressed concern even where public statements defended the actions. He argued that officials who put personnel and missions at risk should not hold sensitive posts.

Bottom Line: Himes called for the classified video to be made public, stressing that Americans should see the footage and judge for themselves whether the strikes complied with legal and ethical norms. He urged clearer congressional oversight and raised questions about the legal basis for the administration's use of lethal force in these signature-style operations.