GOP Senator Opens Formal Investigation Into Hegseth's Possible War Crimes as Trump Warns Venezuela War is Imminent

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Aaron Parnas

Good morning everyone. Today is shaping up to be a major news day as we are learning that Donald Trump has declared the airspace over Venezuela closed until further notice, signaling that a military confrontation may be near. Congress has not authorized any strikes into Venezuela, but it has authorized a bipartisan investigation into Pete Hegseth’s possible war crimes.

This morning I am in active contact with sources on Capitol Hill to understand what is unfolding, because this could mark a turning point in America’s role abroad and in Hegseth’s standing at home. I also share a story from 2019, when I unexpectedly overheard a call between a sitting member of Congress and Nicolás Maduro. The pressure campaign to remove Maduro is not new, and Trump has long wanted this outcome. He simply feels empowered to move now.

You are getting these insights first, and I am working nonstop to bring you clear, timely reporting. If you have not subscribed yet, or can upgrade or share this Substack with someone who would, this is the moment when your support genuinely matters. We are building something real here, and every subscription strengthens the journalism, the access, and the independence that make this possible. Your backing is what keeps this work alive and sharp.

Here’s what you missed:

Senate Armed Services leaders Roger Wicker and Jack Reed pledged “vigorous oversight” into reports that Hegseth issued a “kill them all” order, following Hegseth’s dismissal of the earlier Washington Post story as “fake news.” Wicker is the leading Republican on the Committee. This will be a bipartisan investigation into whether Hegseth violated international laws of war.

https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-gop-senator-opens-formal-investigation

[mike_c]

1. send him to Venezuela for trial...

...when the trials start.

[jmbar2]

2. Then to Venezuelan prison

[cstanleytech]

12. Needs to be sent to Hague as that's the proper place unless the US wants to now be known as the new Nazi Germany.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. It will take them 2 months.

Congress is a snail's pace.

[popsdenver]

7. The Republicans will play kick the can

until it is all forgotten, and then state the investigation was closed due to "insufficient" evidence to charge him.

[wcmagumba]

4. Hegseth, Ugggh, what a jerk...

[John Coktosten]

5. I'm sure

There'll be a "vigorous" investigation with the GOP intent to CLEAR Hegseth. Usual suspects on the dem side, among them some of the 8 who caved on the shutdown just to say the investigation was "bipartisan".

[Gimpyknee]

6. I'm not as pessimistic as you.

I hope I’m right.

[John Coktosten]

8. Not pessimistic, realitistic

I wholeheartedly hope you're right too. After Merrick Garland, I can no longer be hopeful like I was in 2021. I was naive but still believed there would be SOME kind of punishment for Dump and his band of morons. Just some minor amount if possible.

[durablend]

10. And they'll find some excuse how Biden (or Hillary or Obama) are really to blame for this

[drray23]

11. It is also possible that Hegseth will be the fall guy

Instead of Trump. I mean, he was already on thin ice because of his past screwups.

[John Coktosten]

13. Yep

It's possible. Will believe it when it happens.

[MyOwnPeace]

14. AND.......

Somebody will ALWAYS have the “Susan Collins Serious Concerns” syndrome - and not do shit!

[John Coktosten]

15. Hell yes

[ShazamIam]

9. This is all because Venezuela has enormous oil reserves and the current U.S. government wants to be sure the U.S. oil

billionaires control it. The Kochs tried to do this under the first Trump adm.