Demand Progress

Investigate Hegseth for war crimes and block war with Venezuela!

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    Investigate Hegseth for war crimes and block war with Venezuela!

    Petition to Congress:
    We urge you to pass the war powers resolution introduced by Rep. McGovern to stop the United States from going to war with Venezuela. We urge you to investigate Defense Secretary Hegseth for war crimes, and stop U.S. military aggression against Venezuela and other countries in Latin America.

    Trump reportedly told Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that he must give up power and leave the country in order to "save" himself.1 This is the latest Trump escalation bringing the U.S. ever-closer to another protracted regime change war, and another reason lawmakers in the House just introduced a new war powers resolution to stop a military conflict with Venezuela.2

    Recent revelations also uncovered that Pete Hegseth may have committed war crimes during one of his bombings of Venezuelan boats. The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the order to "kill everybody"3 on a boat, leading to a second strike to wipe out any surviving passengers. Legal experts say such an order to kill defenseless people after an initial strike could be a war crime.4

    We need to find out the facts of Hegseth’s deadly directives and stop Trump’s drive toward war with Venezuela. Demand Congress use its investigative and war authority powers NOW.

    Sign the petition: Investigate Pete Hegseth for war crimes and pass a war powers resolution to stop war with Venezuela.

    Senator Tim Kaine said that if the report is true, the action "rises to the level of a war crime."5 Republican Rep. Mike Turner said Hegseth’s commands would be "an illegal act" if the reports are accurate.6

    Trump’s strikes on at least 21 boats in the Caribbean, killing 83 people, have been widely denounced by human rights organizations and members of both parties in Congress as extrajudicial killings violating international law.7

    70% of Americans oppose war with Venezuela.8 Congress must stand with their constituents to stop these military escalations and hold the administration accountable for illegal boat strikes.

    Sign the petition: Investigate Hegseth and block war with Venezuela!

    Sources:

    1. The Guardian, "Trump reportedly gave Maduro ultimatum to relinquish power in Venezuela,” December 1, 2025.
    2. The Intercept, "Bipartisan House Resolution Seeks to Block Trump War With Venezuela,” December 2, 2025.
    3. The Washington Post, "Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all,” November 28, 2025.
    4. Ibid.
    5. The New York Times, "Lawmakers Suggest Follow-Up Boat Strike Could Be a War Crime,” November 30, 2025.
    6. Ibid.
    7. Reuters, "Exclusive: US to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say,” November 23, 2025.
    8. CBS News, "CBS News poll finds most would oppose U.S. military action in Venezuela, say Trump hasn't explained,” November 23, 2025.
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