Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called classified briefings on recent strikes against alleged drug boats “a joke,” saying lawmakers were not given substantive intelligence. She said the sessions fell short of the depth seen in briefings on Ukraine or China and accused the administration of offering opinion rather than evidence. Reuters reported that members of Congress were briefed after pressing for details, and Pentagon officials declined to release a full, unedited video of an early-September strike that reportedly killed 11.
Ocasio-Cortez Calls Classified Briefings On Alleged Drug-Boat Strikes “A Joke”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized classified briefings for members of Congress about recent strikes on alleged drug-running vessels, bluntly calling the sessions “a joke.” Her remarks came in response to questions from reporter Pablo Manríquez about whether the briefings provided satisfactory answers.
When asked, “Were you satisfied with the answers that — you’ve gotten so far today in these classified briefings —,” Ocasio-Cortez replied, “Oh hell no. That was a joke, that was a joke.”
“There was not a single piece of intelligence that was shared that even rises to the level of any other briefing that we’ve seen on Ukraine, China, anything. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was a communication of opinion,” she said. “If this administration wants to go to war, they need to go get it from Congress.”
Reuters reported that briefings were held for all members of Congress after legislators pressed for more information about the boat strikes. Some media accounts named Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio among those involved in briefing sessions; however, published reports vary in how those individuals and their roles are described.
According to coverage of the briefings, Pentagon officials said they would not release a full, unedited video of an early-September strike on an alleged drug boat that reportedly resulted in 11 deaths. A senior official was quoted saying the Department of Defense would not distribute a top-secret, unedited video of the incident to the general public.
Ocasio-Cortez’s comments underscore bipartisan concern in Congress about the quality and substance of classified briefings on sensitive military actions, and they add to ongoing debates over transparency, oversight and the use of force abroad.
Note: This article reflects available reporting about the briefings and retains direct quotes from participants. Some original descriptions of officials’ titles in early reports appear inconsistent; reporters and editors should verify names and official roles before publication.
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