{"id":2514217,"date":"2025-11-24T22:32:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T03:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-dems-seek-declassification-of-doj-memo-on-boat-strikes\/"},"modified":"2025-11-24T22:33:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T03:33:51","slug":"senate-dems-seek-declassification-of-doj-memo-on-boat-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-dems-seek-declassification-of-doj-memo-on-boat-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Dems seek declassification of DOJ memo on boat strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-dems-seek-declassification-of-doj-memo-on-boat-strikes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2514217&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Democrats on the Armed Services Committee have requested the declassification and public release of a Justice Department memo that outlines the legal justification for U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean.The memo, issued by the DOJ&#8217;s Office of Legal Counsel on september 5, explains the legal basis for these strikes authorized by the Trump administration, which claims authority under the designation of a &#8220;non<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-carries-out-another-strike-on-narco-terrorists-in-caribbean\/\" title=\"Pentagon Carries Out Another Strike on Narco Terrorists in Caribbean\">-international armed conflict<\/a>&#8221; with drug cartels. The Democrats argue that releasing the memo is vital for clarity and to ensure Congress and the public are fully informed about the use of lethal force. They also cite precedents where similar legal opinions were made public following U.S. military actions in Libya and Syria. This request comes amid ongoing concerns about the president&#8217;s authority to conduct such strikes without explicit congressional approval. Over 20 strikes have <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >targeted vessels primarily originating<\/a> from Venezuela&#8217;s shores. The letter urging disclosure was signed by thirteen senators, including Richard Blumenthal, Tim Kaine, Elizabeth Warren, and others.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate Democrats seek declassification of DOJ memo on drug vessel strikes<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2413041\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi <\/a>and War Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> requesting the public release of the Justice Department&rsquo;s written opinion on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3881546\/details-us-strikes-targeting-alleged-drug-vessels\/\">strikes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republican-warns-of-potential-sabotage-tactics-by-maduro\/\" title=\"House Republican warns of potential sabotage tactics by Maduro\">alleged drug vessels<\/a><\/a> in the Caribbean. <\/p>\n<p>The 13 committee minority members requested the &ldquo;expeditious declassification and public release&rdquo; of the Sept. 5 memo, which detailed the DOJ&rsquo;s Office of Legal Counsel&rsquo;s legal basis for the strikes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3897431\/ruben-gallego-pentagon-investigation-mark-kelly\/\">Gallego tells Pentagon &#8216;f*** you and your investigation&#8217; over Mark Kelly inquiry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3897047\/ron-johnson-trump-no-position-deliver-tariff-rebate-checks\/\">Senate Republican warns Trump is in no position to deliver $2,000 tariff rebate checks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3896430\/bessent-trump-scrapping-filibuster-its-time\/\">Bessent sides with Trump on scrapping Senate filibuster: &#8216;It&#8217;s time&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Few decisions are more consequential for a democracy than the use of lethal force. We therefore believe that the declassification and public release of this important document would enhance transparency in the use of deadly force by our Nation&rsquo;s military and is necessary to ensure Congress and the American people are fully informed of the legal justification supporting these strikes,&rdquo; the senators wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaine.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/2025-11-24_declassify_olc_opinion_southcom_strikes_letter.pdf\">letter<\/a> comes as lawmakers have pushed back on President Donald Trump&rsquo;s authorized strikes in the Caribbean, raising alarm bells over whether the president has the authority to strike foreign vessels without <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3797853\/trump-authority-blow-up-venezuelan-drug-boat-congress-left-dark\/\">congressional approval<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The signing senators pointed to a historical precedent for the release of military-related opinions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Significant and noteworthy precedent exists for the public release of OLC opinions related to overseas military action. After the United States carried out military strikes in Libya in 2011 and in Syria in 2018 the Department of Justice released the applicable OLC opinion justifying each operation,&rdquo; the senators wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA),  Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) each signed the letter.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3896640\/us-formally-designates-cartel-maduro-venezuela-foreign-terrorist-organization\/\">US FORMALLY DESIGNATES CARTEL LINKED TO MADURO AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. military has carried out over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3888802\/us-drug-boat-strike-total-over-20\/\">20 strikes<\/a> on alleged drug-carrying vessels in the U.S. Southern Command area of control, with many of the vessels coming from the shores of Venezuela. <\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has maintained that the strikes have all been carried out legally under Trump&rsquo;s authority. Trump has declared the United States to be in a &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3834945\/trump-cartels-us-armed-conflict-memo-congress\/\">non-international armed conflict<\/a>&rdquo; with drug cartels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Dems demand DOJ memo release on drug vessel strikes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2514218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-collage-0kee1fiqf-1764039742817.jpg?1764021806&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[63496,21851,42533,50611,33619],"class_list":["post-2514217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-boat-strikes","tag-declassification","tag-doj-memo","tag-national-security-2","tag-senate-democrats"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-collage-0kee1fiqf-1764039742817.jpg?1764021806&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2514217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2514221,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2514217\/revisions\/2514221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2514218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2514217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2514217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2514217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}