Napolitano suggests prosecuting Hegseth for a war crime

Former Judge and senior judicial analyst for Newsmax, Andrew Napolitano, stated on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be prosecuted for alleged war crimes. This follows reports that Hegseth ordered a military strike on a suspected drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean with instructions to "kill everybody."

Speaking on Newsmaxs National Report, Napolitano said, It pains me to make this statement because I worked alongside Pete Hegseth for several years at Fox News. However, instructing the military to murder survivors, who are legally required to be rescued, constitutes a war crime.

He added, Everyone involved, from the Secretary of Defense to the admiral and the personnel who executed the strike, should be held accountable for these killings.

The Trump administration and Hegseth defended the second strike, claiming it targeted a vessel allegedly transporting narcotics after the initial strike left survivors. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the action as an act of self-defense supported by the Justice Department. Napolitano and other legal experts have rejected this justification.

The term narcoterrorist is political, not legal, and cannot justify killing survivors, Napolitano emphasized. He noted that the vessel was 1,500 miles from the United States, making it implausible that it posed any immediate threat.

Members of Congress have raised questions about the double strike, seeking greater transparency and oversight. Napolitano remarked, Republicans are just as concerned as Democrats. Politics aside, the situation has escalated dangerously. Initially, Hegseth denied giving the order, then the White House confirmed he did, claiming it was self-defense.

He criticized the administration for targeting survivors clinging to a burning boat and labeling it self-defense. Hegseth previously stated he did not witness the second strike, which was overseen by Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, though he expressed support for the order.

Admiral Bradley is scheduled to brief senior Senate and House Armed Services committee members on Thursday regarding the strikes and heightened tensions with Venezuela.

Author: Aiden Foster