The U.S. Navy's early retirement of Admiral Alvin Holsey from his command of the campaign to destroy drug-carrying vessels near Venezuela has sparked intense scrutiny from Congress. The admiral, who will retire from U.S. Southern Command in the coming days, briefed key lawmakers on the mission, which has faced criticism for allegedly killing two survivors during a strike in September. The classified video call between Holsey and the Senate Armed Services Committee's chair and ranking Democrat revealed a growing demand for transparency and accountability from the Department of Defense regarding the threats against Venezuela and the strikes. Congress is now pushing for unedited video footage and orders authorizing the attacks, as part of its annual defense authorization bill, highlighting the September 2 strike's potential legal violations. The Republican-controlled Congress is awakening to its oversight role, demanding a full set of data from Holsey to draw conclusions. The Trump administration's drug boat campaign, justified by threats to American lives, has faced criticism from Democrats, who question the logic and intelligence used to determine the boats' cargo destinations. The campaign has struck 22 boats and killed at least 87 people since September, with Trump also threatening Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The admiral's early retirement and the campaign's deadly dynamics have led to calls for a public hearing and a vote on legislation to halt Trump's military action against Venezuela without congressional approval. The controversy surrounding the campaign and the admiral's retirement has raised questions about the legality and ethics of the mission, with senators expressing deep skepticism and demanding a thorough investigation.
