Judge Napolitano on Pete Hegseth: Prosecute for War Crimes https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/newsmax-legal-analyst-andrew-napolitano-destroys-pete-hegseth-in-stunning-commentary-should-be-prosecuted-for-a-war-crime/

bearister said:

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Judge Napolitano on Pete Hegseth: Prosecute for War Crimes https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/newsmax-legal-analyst-andrew-napolitano-destroys-pete-hegseth-in-stunning-commentary-should-be-prosecuted-for-a-war-crime/

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thanks B; link (grabbed from behind firewall) snipped..

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Newsmax Legal Analyst Andrew Napolitano Destroys Pete Hegseth in Stunning Commentary: 'Should Be Prosecuted for a War Crime!'
byline Alex Griffing
Dec 2nd, 2025

Newsmax's senior judicial analyst, Judge Andrew Napolitano, argued on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be prosecuted for a war crime over his order to kill everyone aboard an alleged drug smuggling boat in early September.

Anchor Shaun Kraisman introduced Napolitano on the Trump-friendly network and added, "Again, the White House is very clear that they were acting within the scope of the law. The orders were given to take out these boats, and this continues on to their effort to stop drug trafficking here in the States. It does get a little murky of what happened in terms of the orders, who carried what, who said what. Talk to us about that."

Napolitano replied, "Well, I wish the White House would reveal to us the laws on which the president is relying. He says he has an opinion from the Justice Department, but neither the Justice Department nor the White House will offer it for public scrutiny."

"And it gives me no pleasure to say what I'm about to say because I worked with Pete Hegseth for seven or eight years at Fox News. This is an act of a war crime, ordering survivors who the law requires be rescued instead to be murdered. There's absolutely no legal basis for it," Napolitano continued, adding:

Quote:

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Everybody along the line who did it, from the Secretary of Defense to the admiral to the people who actually pulled the trigger should be prosecuted for a war crime for killing these two people.

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"And who would bring that prosecution forward?" Kraisman pressed.

"Military would bring it because they're all active duty military, not the Secretary of Defense, but everybody else would be subject to a court-martial. I don't know where this is going to go. Republicans in the Congress seem to be as exasperated by it as the Democrats do. I think it's getting beyond politics now. The killing is out of hand. And this last one, in which Pete Hegseth first denied that he gave the order, and then the White House said he did give the order, and then the White House said it was in self-defense. Self-defense! You got two people in the ocean clinging to a burning boat to stay alive, and they're gonna be killed for self-defense? That doesn't make any sense," Napolitano fumed.

Kraisman added, "For the viewers that may not know about that part, I have it for them. This is the White House press secretary talking about this being conducted in self-defense. Watch."

A clip then showed Karoline Leavitt saying, "The strike conducted on September 2nd was conducted in self-defense to protect Americans and vital United States interests. The strike was conducted in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict."

Napolitano reacted, "Well, the law of armed conflict says survivors have to be rescued. They can't be killed. That's very clear. It's in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and it's in federal law. So we'll see where this goes. I think that both houses of Congress are going to investigate it."

"The press secretary, she goes on to say this. I just wanted to read this quote, 'The president has made it quite clear that if narco terrorists are again trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States, he, meaning the president, has the authority to kill them. That is what this administration is doing,' end quote. So you're saying that's not a good defense. This is a war crime, that from you," Kraisman added.
Napolitano replied, "Correct. Correct. Even Congress"

"They are heavy words," interjected Kraisman.

"Very heavy words, which is why I prefaced it by saying it gives me no pleasure to do it. I'm accusing them of crimes that could incarcerate them or even execute them if this stuff was enforced to the hilt. I wish it hadn't happened and I wish I didn't have to say it, but I have to be intellectually honest about what I'm observing here," Napolitano replied.

Kraisman pushed, "You don't see any other side to that because you're very well versed in the law, we know that. You don't see any other side of argument for the administration other than a war crime is committed, there is no other avenue to look at this?"

Napolitano hit back, "Look, narco terrorist is not a legal term. It's a political term and using that political term does not justify"

"But if they're labeled terrorists by the administration, doesn't that indeed indicate that they are?" Kraisman pushed back.

Napolitano replied, "No, no, only if they're engaged in violence can the military kill them. The military can't"
Kraisman pressed, "But it seems violent if they're coming here with drugs that could kill Americans. Is that not so?"

Napolitano replied, "Well, they're fifteen hundred miles from the United States on a speed boat with a fifty-mile distance. It's inconceivable it could reach the United States."

Kraisman concluded, "I'll leave that one there, Judge Andrew Napolitano. Again, heavy words from you. I do appreciate the honesty about it, which we can continue to follow."

smh said:

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bearister said:

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Judge Napolitano on Pete Hegseth: Prosecute for War Crimes https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/newsmax-legal-analyst-andrew-napolitano-destroys-pete-hegseth-in-stunning-commentary-should-be-prosecuted-for-a-war-crime/

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thanks B; link (grabbed from behind firewall) snipped..


Newsmax Legal Analyst Andrew Napolitano Destroys Pete Hegseth in Stunning Commentary: 'Should Be Prosecuted for a War Crime!'

byline Alex Griffing
Dec 2nd, 2025

Newsmax's senior judicial analyst, Judge Andrew Napolitano, argued on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be prosecuted for a war crime over his order to kill everyone aboard an alleged drug smuggling boat in early September.

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Can't wait to see this on Court TV.
The ratings will be off the charts!

Trump loves good TV ratings, doesn't he?

Hegseth on unlawful orders.

Once again, Democrats create a controversy to feed their base's Trump Derangement Syndrome, but when the opportunity arises to actually expose the wrongdoing (see Epstein thread for furthed details), it gets hidden due to "national security concerns."

Another banger article by @kenklippenstein: We’ll never find out what happened with US boat strikes in the Caribbean. Congress won’t release the info and the operation is so top secret that nobody else can release it either https://t.co/Yv2bcxkd4l

— Majid Hosseini (@m4h007) December 3, 2025

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To understand the secrecy (even from much of the Pentagon!), consider this: JSOC operates under a number of above-top secret "special access programs," communicates through its own compartmented network, has its own intelligence agency, its own aviation, its own navy, and its own killer drones. More often than not, it occupies its own bases (or restricted areas on regular military bases) in locations where the U.S. does not admit a presence a secret that host nations are more than happy to keep or not even ask about themselves.

To give a sense of the absurd degree of secrecy involved here, on November 25, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Daniel Caine went to Trinidad and Tobago to meet with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to calm nerves regarding the ongoing boat strikes. The official readout states: "Gen. Caine expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago's continued leadership and partnership in advancing mutual objectives and reaffirmed that the United States remains committed to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago to address shared threats and deepen collaboration across the Caribbean." Translation: U.S. task forces are likely operating in the country. (Bissessar emerged as one of the only leaders in the region to praise the boat strike.)

Congress, meanwhile, doesn't know what exactly happened and it's nearly certain they will never find out, their pledges to get to the truth notwithstanding.

"We're going to have all of the audio and all of the video," Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker said this week, referring to the September 2 strike. "We're going to find out what the true facts are."

Not likely. Some basic facts will be divulged but not the secret methods and actual execute orders. When a select few like Wicker are briefed on the details, they won't be able to talk about much of it because of the classifications involved a system they've long ago blessed legislatively.

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The idea of one political party talking about war crimes committed by the other political party when they are in power is risible. The other party will be killing people around the world covertly when they get in power.

Post by @shipwreck75.bsky.social Bluesky
"A top admiral is expected to tell lawmakers tomorrow that he and his legal advisers concluded that the two survivors of a boat strike in September were attempting to continue their drug run, making them and the damaged vessel legitimate targets for another attack."

*They keep fine tuning the story. Which draft re-write is this one? Fourth?

Hegseth forced out US Navy admiral who had legal concerns over Trump's drug boat' strikes: report | The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pete-hegseth-drug-boats-navy-admiral-b2877882.html

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked a top U.S. Navy admiral to step down after the military chief expressed concern about the "murky" legality of the lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, according to a report….

"You're either on the team or you're not," Hegseth reportedly told 60-year-old Holsey during a meeting this year. "When you get an order, you move out fast and don't ask questions."*

*Which is of utmost importance when the order is unlawful.

"William McRaven, the retired admiral who oversaw the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, said on Thursday that while he did not know details of the strike, he had deep trust in Admiral Bradley, who he said was "one of the finest officers I ever served with."

"In the 30 years that I have known Mitch, he has always displayed a strong moral compass, impeccable character and someone I trusted to do the right thing under even the most difficult of circumstances," Admiral McRaven said."
Helene Cooper, Robert Jimison and Charlie Savage contributed reporting.

If McRaven trusts Bradley, that is good enough for me.

You must be so appreciative that the Pentagon replaced MSM reporters with REAL journalists like Gaetz and Loomer.

All FACTS.
No rumors.

This is how you MAGA!!!

socaltownie said:

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Aunburdened said:

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Dec 2021. John Kirby explains to MSNBC that no individuals will face accountability for the Afghan drone strike that k*lled civilians.

He promises to improve procedures and processes.

Legacy media said that’s fine, and moved on. pic.twitter.com/FFQ09Izoq4

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) December 1, 2025

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I really want to understand this (your whataboutism). Yes. Civilians get killed in war. But no congressional resolution authorizing these actions. Moreover, the better analogy would be the Mia Lia massacre (because likely the village either was aiding the Vietcong or at the very least wasn't providing the SVN government intel. We court marshalled those responsible. I just am aghast that a fellow american doesn't get why we don't kill helpless individuals who are clinging to wreckage. Hell, we SHOT a U-boat commander for doing that.

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I can see why the premium board got tired of you.

If you are going to misrepresent my position to further your inane arguments, then I have no reason to converse with you.

DiabloWags said:

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You must be so appreciative that the Pentagon replaced MSM reporters with REAL journalists like Gaetz and Loomer.

All FACTS.
No rumors.

This is how you MAGA!!!

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The Pentagon reporters were free to stay but they voluntarily surrendered their press credentials and vacated their workspaces on October 15, 2025 like a cult.

I still don't know how you handle being duped on a weekly basis.

QUESTION FOR DEMOCRAT: Didn't you tell service members to defy orders from this guy?! LOL pic.twitter.com/sZk83x36nK

— Erica ❤️🇺🇸 (@eric_hz143) January 1, 2026