118 House Democrats Refuse To Condemn Charlie Kirk's Assassination

What's happening

118 House Democrats Refuse To Condemn Charlie Kirk's Assassination — Democratic lawmakers are calling for a detailed account of a U.S. military strike targeting a Venezuelan motorboat suspected of transporting narcotics. The strike, which occurred months ago, has drawn scrutiny amid allegations from Democrats that it may have violated international law. Explainer Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Revoke TPS For Venezuelan Nationals Allegations of War Crimes Congressional Democrats have accused Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and military officials of potentially committing a war crime during the operation. They claim that a follow-up strike killed two survivors from the initial attack, raising questions about the rules of engagement and whether the U.S. was justified in its Venezuelan nationals. "We need a full timeline of events to understand the decisions made during this operation," a Democratic representative stated. The lawmakers are particularly concerned about claims that innocent fishermen may have been targeted, as well as the legality of conducting military strikes against a nation with which the U.S. Context of the Drug Trade Venezuela is widely regarded as a failed state, with the drug trade comprising a significant portion of its economy. In recent days, the media has been embroiled in controversy surrounding War Secretary Pete Hegseth, following a report from The Washington Post that accused him of directing military officials to 'kill everybody' after a September 2 strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean. This report has drawn sharp criticism, with many asserting it is part of a broader smear campaign against Hegseth, who has been a target since his appointment to lead the Pentagon.

What's at stake

Explainer Media Rush To Defend Democrats By Calling Murder 'Political' The Post's article, which relied on anonymous sources, suggested that Hegseth's orders amounted to potential war crimes, prompting calls for his resignation from some Democratic lawmakers. However, subsequent reporting from The contradicted the Post's claims, stating that while Hegseth did order the strike, his directive did not specifically address the fate of survivors from the initial missile strike. officials who spoke to The Times, Hegseth's orders were not a response to footage showing survivors from the strike. This revelation about the accuracy of the initial report and suggests that the narrative being pushed by some media outlets may be misleading. Adding to the complexity of the situation, ABC News reported that the two survivors of the strike had climbed back onto the vessel and were believed to be in communication with others, which led military officials to consider them valid targets. This detail further complicates the allegations against Hegseth and highlights the challenges of interpreting military operations in real-time. Critics of the media's portrayal of Hegseth argue that this incident is part of a larger pattern of targeted attacks aimed at discrediting him. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has set a special election for April 16, 2026, to fill the congressional seat vacated by Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who recently won the gubernatorial race. The primary will take place on February 5, with nomination petitions due by December 1, prompting criticism from Republican officials who allege the timeline is designed to benefit establishment candidates.

Explainer New Jersey Faces Election Integrity Concerns Amid Sherrill Cheating Scandal and Federal Monitor Deployment Republicans claim that the tight filing deadline, which falls shortly after Thanksgiving, is a tactic to limit participation from non-establishment Democrats and Republicans. "Governor Murphy’s rushed special-election timeline is blatant political corruption designed to protect the Democrat establishment and disenfranchise voters," said Maureen O’Toole, Eastern Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. The 11th , which includes parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties, has shifted from a Republican stronghold to a Democratic-leaning district in recent years. Critics of the election timeline argue that it favors candidates with established party connections. As the Virginia midterm elections approach, Democratic leaders are under scrutiny for their handling of political violence and rhetoric. Eugene Vindman joined fellow Virginia Democrats in condemning political violence following the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Sherrill won her last election by nearly 15 percentage points, and more than a dozen Democrats have already declared their candidacy for the upcoming primary. Among the candidates is Brendan Gill, an Essex County Commissioner endorsed by Murphy, and former Rep. Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway is the only Republican to announce his candidacy thus far. What to watch next is whether new filings, agency actions, votes, or court decisions change the timeline—and how officials respond in the weeks ahead.

Why it matters

The coverage highlights: Democrats Criticize Military Strike on Venezuelan Drug Traffickers. The coverage highlights: The 'War Crimes' Hoax Was Always About Taking Out Hegseth. The coverage highlights: New Jersey Governor Schedules Special Election Amid GOP Allegations of Manipulation. The coverage highlights: Pentagon Could Recall Democrat Senator For Court-Martial Over ‘Seditious’ Video. The coverage highlights: Democrats Face Scrutiny Over Political Rhetoric Ahead of Midterms. The coverage highlights: Be Ready For The Next Epstein Revelation To Fall Flat.

Key facts & context

2025-12-05: Democrats Criticize Military Strike on Venezuelan Drug Traffickers. 2025-12-04: The 'War Crimes' Hoax Was Always About Taking Out Hegseth. 2025-11-26: New Jersey Governor Schedules Special Election Amid GOP Allegations of Manipulation. 2025-11-24: Pentagon Could Recall Democrat Senator For Court-Martial Over ‘Seditious’ Video. 2025-11-20: Democrats Face Scrutiny Over Political Rhetoric Ahead of Midterms. 2025-11-19: Be Ready For The Next Epstein Revelation To Fall Flat. 2025-09-19: 118 House Democrats Refuse To Condemn Charlie Kirk's Assassination. 2025-09-16: Antifa Is Responsible For Charlie Kirk's Assassination. 2025-09-15: Investigation Continues into Charlie Kirk's Assassination Amid Political Tensions. 2025-09-12: Congress Must End Leftist Funding Enabling Kirk Assassination.

Timeline & key developments

2025-12-05: Democrats Criticize Military Strike on Venezuelan Drug Traffickers. 2025-12-04: The 'War Crimes' Hoax Was Always About Taking Out Hegseth. 2025-11-26: New Jersey Governor Schedules Special Election Amid GOP Allegations of Manipulation. 2025-11-24: Pentagon Could Recall Democrat Senator For Court-Martial Over ‘Seditious’ Video. 2025-11-20: Democrats Face Scrutiny Over Political Rhetoric Ahead of Midterms. 2025-11-19: Be Ready For The Next Epstein Revelation To Fall Flat. 2025-09-19: 118 House Democrats Refuse To Condemn Charlie Kirk's Assassination. 2025-09-16: Antifa Is Responsible For Charlie Kirk's Assassination. 2025-09-15: Investigation Continues into Charlie Kirk's Assassination Amid Political Tensions.

Primary sources

• 2025282 — clerk.house.gov
• Text — congress.gov
• 519 — congress.gov
• 179 — congress.gov
• 2025281 — clerk.house.gov

Further reading & references

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