High-ranking Democrat confirms that Admiral responsible for 'Double Tap' strike has cleared Hegseth of Washington Post's 'Kill Them All' accusation.

Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, stated Thursday that Navy Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley rejected claims in a recent Washington Post article suggesting that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had issued a kill them all directive targeting a suspected drug smuggling vessel.

The Admiral confirmed there was no such order and no directive to offer no quarter, Himes told reporters following a briefing with Bradley.

The Washington Post had cited unnamed sources claiming that Hegseth had issued a kill them all command against a vessel near Trinidad on September 2. According to the report, Hegseths order was followed by a strike on the boat, after which the admiral allegedly authorized a second action against two surviving crew members, whom he considered threats.

Bradley reportedly viewed the remaining survivors as potential dangers because they could alert other traffickers to retrieve the ship and its cargo. Officials have clarified that Bradleys actions were not directed by Hegseths alleged command.

After the report surfaced, Hegseth took to X to deny the allegations, criticizing the media for spreading misleading information about military operations. He emphasized that these missions are carefully executed to protect national security.

Himes described the footage of the strike as deeply troubling, noting that while the vessel carried drugs, the individuals involved were not actively engaged in the operation. He suggested that, without full context, the video could be misinterpreted as an attack on shipwrecked sailors.

Author: Benjamin Carter