Senate Republicans block Schiff effort to force release of Caribbean strike footage
Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to force the release of unedited footage to Congress and the public of the U.S. military's controversial Sept. 2 double-tap...
By Fox News · Fox News
Senate Republicans blocked an attempt by Sen. Adam Schiff , D-Calif., to force the release of unedited footage to Congress and the public of the U.S. military's controversial Sept. 2 double-tap strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. Schiff’s move Wednesday afternoon followed passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a provision to require the Pentagon to release all unedited footage of the strikes in the Caribbean to Congress in exchange for full funding of the Department of War’s travel expenses. His bill went a step further and was specifically geared toward the early September double strike against an alleged drug boat that has divided lawmakers in recent weeks, particularly over whether the strikes were legal. PENTAGON WON'T RELEASE 'TOP SECRET, FULL, UNEDITED' VIDEO OF SEPTEMBER DRUG BOAT STRIKE, HEGSETH SAYS Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed every senator on the strikes Tuesday, but Senate Democrats left unsatisfied because they weren’t shown the footage of the strikes. Hegseth argued that the Pentagon has a longstanding policy to not release unedited, top-secret footage. "The public should see this, and I hope that we'll have support to make it public," Schiff said after the meeting. "I found the legal explanations and the strategic explanations incoherent, but I think the American people should see this video. And all members of Congress should have that opportunity. I certainly want it for myself." But the push was blocked by Sen. Markwayne Mullin , R-Okla., who argued on the floor that Schiff's motives may have been politically influenced and that when former President Barack Obama used drones during his administration, there wasn't near the same level of hand-wringing. SENATE SENDS $901B DEFENSE BILL TO TRUMP AFTER CLASHES OVER BOAT STRIKE, DC AIRSPACE Schiff’s legislation would have given Hegseth 10 days to make the unedited footage available to all members of Congres…