If you have not seen it yet, Joyce Vance and Ryan Goodman did a great Substack video this morning going into the legalities of what tRump and Hegseth have done. It is well worth a half hour of your time. The recording should be up later this afternoon. Check it out!
I watched Joyce Vance's Substack Live with Ryan Goodman this morning. (The recording is not yet posted to her Substack https://joycevance.substack.com/)
It boiled down to being either a War Crime (if the attack met the standards of being an act of war) and/or murder. Case law is absolutely clear that the second strike on the survivors is totally illegal.
It was mentioned that many experts believe that there were too many people on the boat to have been solely a drug-smuggling operation and that likely some of them were victims of human trafficking.
Goodman also pointed out that during Trump 1.0, the US Senate (including Mario Rubio) widely condemned Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte when he committed "extra-judicial" killings in his so-called "War on Drugs". Trump, however, was a fan of Duterte's tough-on-crime stance at the time. Duterte was another one of Trump's bromances with dictators.
Duterte is currently facing charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings.
HI Cheryl, I listened to Joyce and Ryan's conversation, too. He was very clear that the circling back to kill the 2 survivors was murder. He also pointed out that the boat had turned around and was headed back to port when the first strike took place. That needs to be looked into, too. Trump's praise at the time of this first boat bombing is all the duplicity I need to say he needs to be called to account, as well. It also came out that the wreckage of these boat bombing has at least sometimes been bombed again as a way to 'clean-up' the debris. Yikes! Sounds like destroying the evidence to me!
Yes, Cheryl, and to your query, Scott, Hegseth committed war crimes and murder to which the aforementioned legal experts have attested. This heinous behavior is necessary to maintain loyalty to the devious drumpster, the head criminal who demands that his acolytes kill for him, contrary to the edicts of the US Constitution and international law. Extrajudicial judicial killings like this are one reason that the International Criminal Court was founded under the Rome Statute in 2002. Rest assured that as long as drump retains power, the U.S. will not become a member of this court because the only law that he stands for is his version of it. I think that Mark Kelly and the members of Congress and of the US military who stand with him are the bravest of all, and that AOC and her volunteers to feed the hungry in response to drump's rejection of the US Government's social contact with its citizens, is the most humane.
Figure out what 35% of the adult U.S. population is, the percentage that still approves of Trump, and there's your likely answer. I like to think that rising cost of living, etc., will peel some of them away, but they'll probably blame all that on Biden.
THIS IS COMMUNITY & CARING! This is what AMERICA stands for!
Communities across the nation pulled together to make up for TRUMP'S CRUELTY.
When PARTS OF TEXAS lost power, AOC led the caravans from across the country that brought FOOD, WATER, BLANKETS & supplies to care for those in need, while TED escaped to CANCUN & Gov. Missing In Action disappeared.
TRUMP & MAGA would remain silent as people are HUNGRY, have no LIHEAP to warm their homes, eliminate housing subsidies to increase HOMELESSNESS, eliminate HEALTHCARE....
BIG BEAUTIFUL DISASTER increased DEBT & DEFICITS, destroying the nation's ECONOMY, destroying the CREDIT WORTHINESS of the US....
MAGA HATE, BIGOTRY & DIVISIVENESS is drowning, along with FOX NEWS = FAKE NEWS LIARS! No nation built on HATE will survive.
Excellent roundup today of the powerful actions of true patriotic Americans who have *actually served this country* rising up to hold this lawless regime accountable. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Mike's position matches that of Ryan Goodman during Joyce Vance's livestream this morning. There is still debate around whether the attack was an act of war, so the answer is nuanced. But there is no doubt that it was totally illegal.
The recording is not yet posted, but you should be able to find it here later:
Well then, opinions seem to differ. Again: Scott quotes NYU law professor Ryan Goodman and veteran/Rep. Ted Lieu as calling it a war crime. I don’t have a dog in this fight; I’m just trying to learn.
He thinks this is all a video game he’s playing while drunk at his frat house. It’s disgusting he is Secretary of Defense. Trump never should have been on the ballot in 2024 (fault of the entire Republican Party who fought tooth and nail to get an insurrectionist and convicted felon onto the ballot and every voter and millionaire and billionaire who put him in office). Trump never should have nominated Hegseth. The Senate never should have confirmed Hegseth. Hegseth’s actions to date (going way back to Signalgate) should have led to his removal already. Republicans in Congress who continue to shield this lawless regime have failed America at every step. Long past time for them to do the right thing!!
We all need to be calling out GOP senators who confirmed Hegseth espite knowing he was absolutely unqualified. I have repeatedly told mine that they are complicit in every illegal action Hegseth has committed.
Hegseth has been committing crimes since he was appointed, and the entire bombing murders of "narcoterrorist" boats and their crews (with no proof or due process) already qualify. This latest blatant 2nd kill shot is the worst - so far. The Veterans speaking out are brave, yes, but those not speaking out are cowards, so afraid of Trmp's wrath that they fold up like tissue paper. Shame on them. Their JOB is oversight.
I agree with "the entire bombing murders of "narcoterrorist" boats and their crews (with no proof or due process) already qualify." Everyone involved in that is a murderer.
My Pennsylvania senators Fetterman (D) and McCormick (R) both responded to my letters that they approve of Trump blowing up boats because anything to stop drugs is worth it. McCormick graduated from West Point. Guess he skipped class when they talked about illegal orders.
Scott, the available facts indicate that Hegseth has committed at least one war crime in his short tenure. We knew he was unqualified when he was nominated and Hegseth has confirmed it daily.
Not only is Hegseth completely unqualified for his position as God of War... I mean Secretary of Defense, but he is undoubtedly a war criminal and will continue to commit atrocities if he is not removed from that position.
More veterans and active duty military must join Sen. Kelly and others and stand up to and against the traitorous trump regime... right now!
This is a fantastic post, Scott! The more we all see this the better. I absolutely believe that Hegseth committed war crimes and I’m happy to hear that there generally aren’t statutes of limitations on those. I also 100% support Mark Kelly reminding the military folks that they don’t have to follow unlawful orders…they deserve our respect and support for telling the truth! Kudos to AOC for her work and her voice.
Definitely grim- the good news is people are waking up! Hopefully something will get done soon…AOC, Kelly, Duckworth, military not taking orders from an unqualified idiot…etc.
Yes, I think Hegseth committed war crimes. I also think this is the beginning of the end. We are dangerously close to war. I want to see emergency committee meetings immediately Monday morning. He needs to be detained until he can be turned over to The Hague. Then we start working on Noem.
Proud of all who are speaking out. Clearly, blowing up every boat in the Caribbean with no due process is an illegal order. Many are dead. It is wrong!
And what legitimate EVIDENCE have they even given for their actions?? I hope that every single Republican who has supported this garbage administration will pay the price when the jig is finally up.
Today we are focused on these five actions:
Demand answers about Trump’s visibly deteriorating health: https://tinyurl.com/sk9xm38v
Stand with Ukraine over Russia: https://tinyurl.com/2khn59cr
Support discharge petition to force vote on ACA tax credits: https://tinyurl.com/w23tnvxm
Help us push for an investigation into the Epstein scandal HERE: https://tinyurl.com/4pfh2p4f
Pass bill on unmasking ICE and displaying clear ID here: https://tinyurl.com/bp8cau82
If you have not seen it yet, Joyce Vance and Ryan Goodman did a great Substack video this morning going into the legalities of what tRump and Hegseth have done. It is well worth a half hour of your time. The recording should be up later this afternoon. Check it out!
I cauught it this morning. Well worth a listen.
TY!!
Ts, Scott. I need to hear you daily as I contend with our constant, deceitful illusions of prosperity & what MAGA portends & MUST be stopped!
It’s a crime that Kegsbreath is even the Secretary of Defense. His actions aren’t defensive, they’re offensive to the rules of law.
"Do you think Pete Hegseth committed war crimes?"
I watched Joyce Vance's Substack Live with Ryan Goodman this morning. (The recording is not yet posted to her Substack https://joycevance.substack.com/)
It boiled down to being either a War Crime (if the attack met the standards of being an act of war) and/or murder. Case law is absolutely clear that the second strike on the survivors is totally illegal.
It was mentioned that many experts believe that there were too many people on the boat to have been solely a drug-smuggling operation and that likely some of them were victims of human trafficking.
Goodman also pointed out that during Trump 1.0, the US Senate (including Mario Rubio) widely condemned Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte when he committed "extra-judicial" killings in his so-called "War on Drugs". Trump, however, was a fan of Duterte's tough-on-crime stance at the time. Duterte was another one of Trump's bromances with dictators.
Duterte is currently facing charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings.
www.yahoo.com/news/articles/icc-judges-rule-provisional-release-042102451.html
HI Cheryl, I listened to Joyce and Ryan's conversation, too. He was very clear that the circling back to kill the 2 survivors was murder. He also pointed out that the boat had turned around and was headed back to port when the first strike took place. That needs to be looked into, too. Trump's praise at the time of this first boat bombing is all the duplicity I need to say he needs to be called to account, as well. It also came out that the wreckage of these boat bombing has at least sometimes been bombed again as a way to 'clean-up' the debris. Yikes! Sounds like destroying the evidence to me!
Yes, Cheryl, and to your query, Scott, Hegseth committed war crimes and murder to which the aforementioned legal experts have attested. This heinous behavior is necessary to maintain loyalty to the devious drumpster, the head criminal who demands that his acolytes kill for him, contrary to the edicts of the US Constitution and international law. Extrajudicial judicial killings like this are one reason that the International Criminal Court was founded under the Rome Statute in 2002. Rest assured that as long as drump retains power, the U.S. will not become a member of this court because the only law that he stands for is his version of it. I think that Mark Kelly and the members of Congress and of the US military who stand with him are the bravest of all, and that AOC and her volunteers to feed the hungry in response to drump's rejection of the US Government's social contact with its citizens, is the most humane.
I've written about Duterte/CaligulusTrumpus a couple of times at least since March (maybe more):
https://www.ruminato.com/p/why-donald-trump-should-care-about
https://www.ruminato.com/p/the-extrajudicial-killings-will-continue
But nobody in magaland listens to me!
Not surprising.
I wonder how many are left in "Maga land now.
Figure out what 35% of the adult U.S. population is, the percentage that still approves of Trump, and there's your likely answer. I like to think that rising cost of living, etc., will peel some of them away, but they'll probably blame all that on Biden.
It’s so much easier to blame someone incorrectly than admit your idol has feet of clay.
I hope that number keeps going down!
IIRC, Duterte is in The Hague
Yep, you got that right and offensive it is. Love the Kegsbreath. So appropriate!
He thinks he is Secretary of War. So he can be as offensive as he likes.
He’s Secretary of War Crimes
Actually I think he has deluded himself into believing he is the God of War.
Gotta love AOC showing us how it’s done.
THIS IS COMMUNITY & CARING! This is what AMERICA stands for!
Communities across the nation pulled together to make up for TRUMP'S CRUELTY.
When PARTS OF TEXAS lost power, AOC led the caravans from across the country that brought FOOD, WATER, BLANKETS & supplies to care for those in need, while TED escaped to CANCUN & Gov. Missing In Action disappeared.
TRUMP & MAGA would remain silent as people are HUNGRY, have no LIHEAP to warm their homes, eliminate housing subsidies to increase HOMELESSNESS, eliminate HEALTHCARE....
BIG BEAUTIFUL DISASTER increased DEBT & DEFICITS, destroying the nation's ECONOMY, destroying the CREDIT WORTHINESS of the US....
MAGA HATE, BIGOTRY & DIVISIVENESS is drowning, along with FOX NEWS = FAKE NEWS LIARS! No nation built on HATE will survive.
I wish more Congress people would do that because I would certainly be there to help out. Helping our communities is what we need to do.
Excellent roundup today of the powerful actions of true patriotic Americans who have *actually served this country* rising up to hold this lawless regime accountable. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I love this post. Very powerful!
Yes, Hegseth committed war crimes. I absolutely love the veterans who are speaking up.
Trump is not only burning bridges, but he’s torching the land at both ends.
Actually you need a war to be changed with war crimes but murder will do.
Agree, It is absolutely murder and kegsbreath needs to go to prison with the coin-operated felon!
The knowledgeable experts Scott quoted would seem to disagree with you.
Mike's position matches that of Ryan Goodman during Joyce Vance's livestream this morning. There is still debate around whether the attack was an act of war, so the answer is nuanced. But there is no doubt that it was totally illegal.
The recording is not yet posted, but you should be able to find it here later:
https://joycevance.substack.com/
Understand but the fact remains that unless there is an armed conflict it doesn’t fall under the definition of a war crime.
Well then, opinions seem to differ. Again: Scott quotes NYU law professor Ryan Goodman and veteran/Rep. Ted Lieu as calling it a war crime. I don’t have a dog in this fight; I’m just trying to learn.
....so murder then?
Hegseth really seems to be a case of arrested development. He never graduated from GI JOE dolls.
He thinks this is all a video game he’s playing while drunk at his frat house. It’s disgusting he is Secretary of Defense. Trump never should have been on the ballot in 2024 (fault of the entire Republican Party who fought tooth and nail to get an insurrectionist and convicted felon onto the ballot and every voter and millionaire and billionaire who put him in office). Trump never should have nominated Hegseth. The Senate never should have confirmed Hegseth. Hegseth’s actions to date (going way back to Signalgate) should have led to his removal already. Republicans in Congress who continue to shield this lawless regime have failed America at every step. Long past time for them to do the right thing!!
We all need to be calling out GOP senators who confirmed Hegseth espite knowing he was absolutely unqualified. I have repeatedly told mine that they are complicit in every illegal action Hegseth has committed.
👍👍
WELL SAID!
Agree Klarity!
👏👏👏👏😂
Hegseth has been committing crimes since he was appointed, and the entire bombing murders of "narcoterrorist" boats and their crews (with no proof or due process) already qualify. This latest blatant 2nd kill shot is the worst - so far. The Veterans speaking out are brave, yes, but those not speaking out are cowards, so afraid of Trmp's wrath that they fold up like tissue paper. Shame on them. Their JOB is oversight.
I agree with "the entire bombing murders of "narcoterrorist" boats and their crews (with no proof or due process) already qualify." Everyone involved in that is a murderer.
My Pennsylvania senators Fetterman (D) and McCormick (R) both responded to my letters that they approve of Trump blowing up boats because anything to stop drugs is worth it. McCormick graduated from West Point. Guess he skipped class when they talked about illegal orders.
Fetterman need to be primaried. Unfortunately he was elected in 2022, so he isn't up for reelection next year.
What a disappointment FETTERMAN has become!
They continue to refer to the boats as drug boats when there has never been any proof whatsoever. I think tRump is playing war games.
Exactly.
Hard to believe that they responded like that. Terrible!
Right, why was he not investigated after “Signalgate”
Truth Frances!
There were MANY CREDIBLE REPORTS of DRUNKEN PETE going on air DRUNK, as well as the questionable accusation regarding drugging a woman & raping her.
Fires experienced MILITARY LEADERS.
Now he's attacking the BOY SCOUTS?
MAGA GOP don't like to investigate or ask questions.
TRUMP likes the PROPAGANDA BOOBS from the PROPAGANDA NETWORK...now we have incompetent JEANINE PIRRO who thinks she's an attorney.
BEAUTY QUEEN Lindsey Halligan?
Wasted COURT TIME trying to convict the WILTED SUBWAY SALAMI MAN?
Rejecting federal overreach, a federal jury acquits the "Sandwich Man," Sean Dunn
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/11/7/2352624/-Damning-federal-overreach-a-federal-jury-acquits-the-Sandwich-Man-Sean-Dunn
Scott, the available facts indicate that Hegseth has committed at least one war crime in his short tenure. We knew he was unqualified when he was nominated and Hegseth has confirmed it daily.
Not only is Hegseth completely unqualified for his position as God of War... I mean Secretary of Defense, but he is undoubtedly a war criminal and will continue to commit atrocities if he is not removed from that position.
More veterans and active duty military must join Sen. Kelly and others and stand up to and against the traitorous trump regime... right now!
Agreed Kevin!
🤣🤣 .... he better wake up and smell the coffee! Ares he's not!!
Sadly, yes, seems like a war crime to me.
The bombing of boats in the Caribbean, without invoking War also seems like a ke war crimes.
I'm always proud when Americans of any ilk speak up and out about situations that are illegal.
Congressmen and women who speak out are especially brave.
I pray no harm comes to them.
Trump is such a loose cannon these days that it has become very scary.
He bombs Venezuelans but pardons a Honduran drug runner. Makes no damn sense!
Always have to ask the question, what’s in it for Donald? And you’ll have your answer. This administration is just one big ongoing, perpetual grift.
It is, for sure.
This is a fantastic post, Scott! The more we all see this the better. I absolutely believe that Hegseth committed war crimes and I’m happy to hear that there generally aren’t statutes of limitations on those. I also 100% support Mark Kelly reminding the military folks that they don’t have to follow unlawful orders…they deserve our respect and support for telling the truth! Kudos to AOC for her work and her voice.
Thanks Carolyn!
Excellent post Scott! Great news! Totally support Veterans and Kegstand can go to jail!
Under such grim circumstances, I would personally not call this "great news". The removal of Hegseth as Sec. of Defense WOULD be great news.
Definitely grim- the good news is people are waking up! Hopefully something will get done soon…AOC, Kelly, Duckworth, military not taking orders from an unqualified idiot…etc.
Thanks Tess!
Yes, I think Hegseth committed war crimes. I also think this is the beginning of the end. We are dangerously close to war. I want to see emergency committee meetings immediately Monday morning. He needs to be detained until he can be turned over to The Hague. Then we start working on Noem.
Thanks, Scott. Great coverage.❤️
Thanks Lisa!
AOC is everything Hegseth is not.
By far!!
For sure Pam!
Proud of all who are speaking out. Clearly, blowing up every boat in the Caribbean with no due process is an illegal order. Many are dead. It is wrong!
And what legitimate EVIDENCE have they even given for their actions?? I hope that every single Republican who has supported this garbage administration will pay the price when the jig is finally up.
It's like someone is using a magic 8 ball to call whether or not to strike Susan!
I want to see just one boatload of drugs among the ones they keep sinking.
More than wrong — evil!
For sure Debra!