Schumer says Hegseth 'endangers servicemen and women,' calls for his removal

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday, December 3, blamed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of covering up lethal strikes on alleged d**g smuggling boats in the Caribbean and endangering the lives of US service members.

Schumer suggested that Hegseth should be removed from office, citing bipartisan concern over the Secretary’s conduct regarding the controversial September 2nd incident.

Chuck Schumer calls for Pete Hegseth’s removal

Speaking on ‘The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell,’ Schumer sharply criticized the appointment of Hegseth, a former Fox News commentator, to lead the Defense Department. He stated, “You know, when the president chooses a Fox News commentator to run the most important, most complicated, most life-and-death department in the government, obviously, that was a mistake.”

He continued, “And now it’s clear, it’s not just a mistake, it’s an outrage. Hegseth has endangered the lives of servicemen and women.”

The Senator added that Hegseth “has hidden up the tapes of what’s going on in the Caribbean. He seems to be covering that up. And he’s just a totally, totally man out of control. He should be gone.” 

Schumer further noted that Republicans are “looking actively to get this guy under control,” which may affect the White House, although he clarified, “I doubt it.”

The Democratic leader emphasized that bipartisan anger “is going to really make a difference.”

While Schumer refrained from committing to impeaching Hegseth if Democrats take the House after the 2026 midterms, he reaffirmed, “Obviously, Hegseth will be somebody who should have to go, has to go. He is an outrage, just an outrage." 

Chuck Schumer demands transparency on September 2nd strike

Schumer's accusations center on the September 2nd attack in the Caribbean, where 11 people were killed after four US strikes hit a boat. The Senate leader specifically urged Hegseth to be transparent about the incident, which has faced intense criticism following a Washington Post report alleging that a commanding officer ordered a second strike on two survivors clinging to wreckage.

The second strike was reportedly ordered under Hegseth's directive to “kill everybody.” This, along with other strikes that have killed over 80 people since September, has been labeled a potential war crime by several figures.

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told CNN, “I don’t think there’s any question that that’s a war crime, if it happened in that way,” adding that the planned investigations by the Senate and House Armed Services Committees are “the best thing that’s happening now."

Schumer, Paul earlier lead war powers challenge to Venezuela hostilities

Schumer also highlighted his efforts to check the administration’s military actions in the region, as part of a bipartisan group that filed a war powers resolution. This resolution, filed by Schumer, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), would have prohibited the US from taking hostile action against Venezuela without congressional approval.

The Senators pointed to President Trump’s recent comments that the US would take land action against Venezuela “very soon” as a major concern. Schumer accused the administration of going against Trump’s stated “America First” foreign policy by escalating tensions with Venezuela through strikes against alleged drug smugglers.