Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is weighing in on whether the public will see the full video of the Sept. 2 strikes near Venezuela targeting a vessel allegedly carrying drugs. CBS News' Taurean Small reports from Capitol Hill as lawmakers react to their latest briefing on the matter.

Washington

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the public will not be shown the full, unedited video of the September 2 military strikes near Venezuela, citing its classified status. The Trump administration faced scrutiny following reports that survivors of the initial attack were targeted, leading to calls from lawmakers for greater transparency.

Congress remains split on the issue, with some Republicans seeking more transparency and Democrats demanding the full release of the video. The investigation into the strikes and related actions continues, including potential legal concerns raised by members of Congress.

Hegseth says public won't see video of Sept. 2 strikes near Venezuela

President Trump is calling for a total and complete blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers that enter or leave Venezuela the president touted the u.s. Military ships surrounding Venezuela on social media saying the armada will only get bigger Until the president says the country returns quote all of the oil land and other assets that they previously stole from us and quote Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed lawmakers on the set on the Second strike on a suspected drug vessel carried out back in September The Trump administration has come under scrutiny following reports the u.s. Military targeted survivors of the initial attack, but Hexeth is saying the public will not see the full video Of course, we're not going to release a top-secret Full unedited video of that to the general public CBS News congressional reporter Torian small joins us now from Capitol Hill with more on all of this. Good morning, Torian How do lawmakers feel about what the defense secretary had to say? Yeah, good morning arrows. So no lawmaker left with the change mind This was a partisan split at one their interpretation of not just a video But the Trump administration's handling of these strikes we heard from Republicans who were still interesting Interestingly enough calling for more transparency like Senator Lindsey Graham But the extent of it didn't go as far as Democrats who would like to see the full Unedited video released to the public like we heard here like we're about to hear here from Senator Chuck Schumer. Take a listen Every senator is entitled to see it I also believe that every American should see an appropriate version of this What of the of the unedited of well, they should see an appropriate version of what happened on September the 2nd I think the video should be given to everybody in Congress The least of my concerns is this friggin video Release it make your own decisions. This is lawful There Was quite the defense that we heard from Secretary Hexeth and Marco Rubio during a press gaggle Around these briefings. We also heard from Senator Mark Kelly. He said that Hexeth invoked the six Democratic lawmaker video and the fact that he's targeted Hexeth's Investigation Kelly again is maintaining that it's BS and he's saying that it was largely a performative show from the secretary at this briefing But ultimately that investigation continues and to what Hexeth is calling Potentially a legal action by Kelly for that video encouraging members of the armed first forces to disobey Illegal orders Errol. All right, Torian small with all the big headlines there from Capitol Hill on this story. Thank you, Torian

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