Hegseth in the Hot Seat & Pardons Prevail - “The Sunday Political Brunch”
Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™
Hegseth in the Hot Seat & Pardons Prevail - “The Sunday Political Brunch”
“Signal Chat Aftermath” – The Inspector General of the Department of Defense says Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth put U.S. troops at "risk” when he used the internet platform Signal Chat to discuss sensitive military maneuvers with fellow cabinet members. The call was even more controversial because a news editor was somehow looped into the chat. Classified documents about a U.S. military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen were discussed. There is an Inspector General in virtually every federal agency, who serves as an independent watchdog for possible government misconduct or mistakes. Anonymous sources first gave portions of the report to CNN and the Associated Press.
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“Hegseth on Boat Attacks” – The Signal Chat report comes the same week that Secretary Hegseth is under fire over the military shooting at suspected drug-running boats off the coast of South and Central America. The Washington Post reported last week on a September 2nd strike on an alleged drug boat, and its source says Hegseth told the commander, “The order was to kill everybody.” Witnesses say the first strike killed most of the people on the boat, but that two survivors were seen clinging to the vessel when a second round was fired, killing them. During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth said he did not see any survivors in the water, saying the vessel “exploded in fire, smoke, you can’t see anything. ... This is called the fog of war.” After the first strike, Hegseth said he left the closed-circuit viewing area. Of the admiral who ordered the additional strike, Hegseth said, “He made the right call,” adding, “He had complete authority to do so.” Many in Congress disagree and want a full investigation. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) Nevada said Hegseth, “likely committed a war crime,” and called on him to resign. Admiral Frank Bradley, who led the military strike, told Congress he was not given a “kill everybody” order.
“Venezuela” – The suspected drug trafficking boats are a symptom of a much larger issue. President Trump ordered the airspace above and adjacent to Venezuela to be closed. He said the U.S. might soon make strikes on Venezuelan soil. Trump says the strikes would be on drug operations that have killed many Americans. For this, the White House blames President Nicolas Maduro, who has denied the allegations. Venezuela has condemned Trump's comments as a "colonialist threat" and a violation of international law. The U.S. has a large naval fleet in the region.
“Tennessee House Race” – Rep. Matt Epps (R), Tennessee, won a hard-fought battle in the open 7th district seat. It’s no surprise that he won this conservative-leaning district, but it’s how he won that may be the biggest takeaway. The GOP had to pour in several million dollars in last-minute donations to secure more advertising in a state with expensive media markets. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R), Louisiana, also flew in to campaign. Epps won the seat by nine percentage points, but in the 2024 election, Republicans won it by 21 percentage points. GOP operative Jason Roe warned his party here and elsewhere, “Democratic enthusiasm is dramatically higher than Republican enthusiasm.” Competitive seats could determine who controls the House and Senate in 2026.
“DC Shooting Update” –A 29-year-old Afghan immigrant from Washington State has made his first court appearance in the case. Appearing from his hospital room, Rahmanullah Lakanwal entered pleas of not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, assault with attempt to kill with a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro plans to seek the federal death penalty. Meanwhile, the two National Guard troops were honored on the Senate Floor with resolutions. Sen. Jim Justice (R) West Virginia said, “Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe represent the very best of our nation. They were ordinary West Virginians who chose a life dedicated to extraordinary service. Specialist Beckstrom—who volunteered to work that day so others could spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones—made the ultimate sacrifice for her country.”
“Purple Heart Push” – The nation is still raw after the ambush attack that killed Army Specialist Beckstrom and critically wounded Air Force Staff Sgt. Wolfe. Both are with the West Virginia National Guard, which has been helping patrol the streets of Washington, DC. Now a move is underway to have them honored with the Purple Heart, hers posthumously. Capt. James McCormick, U.S. Army (Ret.), is the former national commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, having earned his three Purple Hearts in combat. There was a time when only combat wounds qualified a person for the Purple Heart. But now they can be bestowed for injuries received in a terrorist attack, overseas, or at home. Capt. McCormick said, “You know this wasn’t just some criminal act. Some people will try to play it off as a criminal act. He was heard yelling ‘Allahu Akbar.’ The same blood-curdling thing that I listened to with my men when we’re attacked in Iraq.” As a military parent, I fully endorse the Purple Heart for both.
“More Epstein Flies” – On Friday, a federal judge in Florida ordered that secret grand jury documents in the case of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell should be made public. This is significant because Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges but was given immunity on federal charges. Critics say he got a “sweetheart deal,” and now we will see all the evidence, and it may shed light on why he was never prosecuted federally, but Maxwell was.
“More from the Courts” – Also, on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case where President Trump banned birthright citizenship. He essentially overturned the 14th Amendment to the Constitution by Executive Order. Arguments will be heard in the spring, with a ruling by summer. I have predicted that Trump will lose the case on a 9-0 vote.
“Presidential Pardons” – President Trump continues with his year of pardons, and he’s being bipartisan about it. He pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar (D) Texas. Cuellar and his wife were charged with federal bribery and conspiracy allegations. Prosecutors said they accepted millions in bribes to help an energy company in Azerbaijan and a bank in Mexico. The investigation occurred in the Biden administration, and Trump says the Department of Justice was “weaponized” to attack Cuellar, who had been critical of Biden’s immigration policies. Biden has yet to comment.
“Another Pardon” – To many, it seemed counterintuitive. President Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who had been convicted in a U.S. federal court of helping traffic hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States. He was serving a 45-year sentence. Critics wonder how Trump can order strikes on suspected drug boats from Venezuela, in an effort to topple that country’s president, while freeing the former Honduran president convicted of the same type of crime. But Trump says Hernandez was “set up” by drug cartels in his country that he was trying to shut down. Sen. Chris Coons (D) Delaware said, “If President Trump actually wants to send a strong signal to Central and South American heads of state involved in narco-trafficking, pardoning one of the most recent grotesque offenders, a man who trafficked 500 tons of cocaine into the United States, is exactly the wrong message.”
“More Name-Calling” – Last week in this column, I reflected on what seems to be a serious increase in political name-calling. President Trump called a reporter “piggy” and called Illinois’s governor “a fat slob.” Sadly, it appears to be getting worse. This week, Trump called a reporter “a stupid person” and called Minnesota’s governor “retarded.” My late youngest sister had Down Syndrome for her 51 years on this planet, so I find the R-word very offensive. But it comes from both sides of the aisle, as former President Barack Obama once called Trump “childish.” And Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) California, a likely 2028 presidential contender, recently called Trump, “an invasive species.” I know it’s not going to end. Honestly, some of the things Thomas Jefferson and John Adams said about each other would make a sailor blush. It’s not going away, but I wish they’d tone it down and be more civil. The country deserves better.
“RIP Ed Rabel” – My friend and colleague Ed Rabel passed away days after Thanksgiving. The West Virginia native spent more than 30 years at CBS and NBC News, covering the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement, with Walter Cronkite in the anchor chair. Ed was a stellar journalist, who later in life joined the Peace Corps. Rest easy my friend.