Lawmakers View Classified Footage of Fatal Boat Incident, Disagree on Threat

U.S. lawmakers who viewed classified footage of a deadly boat interception by the U.S. Coast Guard have described it as deeply disturbing. The incident, which resulted in multiple fatalities, is under investigation. The footage showed the suspected drug-smuggling vessel was struck four times, correcting the initial public report of two impacts. After watching the video, congressional members emerged with starkly different interpretations. Democratic lawmakers stated the survivors in the water posed no immediate threat to Coast Guard personnel. Republicans contested this view, arguing the individuals did remain a threat. Both sides, however, agreed that the on-scene commander, Pete Hegseth, did not give an order to "kill everybody," countering prior allegations. The classified briefing has intensified scrutiny of the event, though the full video remains withheld from the public.