[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8587-S8588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CARIBBEAN BOAT STRIKE
Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, Mr. President, on the Hegseth briefing of
yesterday, during yesterday's Gang of 8 briefing, I asked Secretary
Hegseth directly will he let every Member of Congress see the full,
unedited tapes of the September 2 boat strike. Secretary Hegseth's
answer? He said: We have to study it.
What the hell has he been doing for the last 3 months? Hegseth and
the DOD have had more than enough time to study this. It is time for
all Members of Congress to see the tapes for themselves.
I told Secretary Hegseth that every Member of Congress, Democrat and
Republican of the House and Senate, wants to see the tapes. Both
parties are united in demanding that the tapes be released. Our
Republican chairman of Armed Services and our Democratic
[[Page S8588]]
ranking member of Armed Services made a request together. This is not a
partisan issue. Both parties are united in demanding the tapes be
released not only to Congress but to the American people. The American
people want to have the transparency they deserve.
Hegseth is resisting that transparency. What is he hiding, what is
the DOD hiding, and what is President Trump hiding? Those are the
questions the American people are asking when it comes to Hegseth's
coverup of these tapes, these videos.
At the meeting, I also pressed Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth on the
administration's recent military action in the Caribbean. I wanted to
know: What are their plans? How far are they going? Is Donald Trump
about to drag America into another endless war?
And again, I didn't get any satisfying answers.
When it comes to matters of war and peace, Congress needs the truth;
the American people need transparency. Anything less is a total
disservice to our men and women in uniform and to every citizen of this
country.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sheehy). The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The majority whip.
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