Questioning the Actions: Did a U. S. Official Break the Law?

A former judge has raised serious concerns about a recent incident involving Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The issue involves the alleged killing of survivors from a boat carrying drugs. The White House claims these actions were legal, but not everyone agrees. Andrew Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, shared his thoughts on the matter. He believes that if Hegseth ordered the killings, it could be considered a war crime. He expressed his concerns on Newsmax, stating that the White House should be more transparent about the laws they are following. Napolitano mentioned that he has worked with Hegseth in the past, but he believes that the law requires rescuing survivors, not killing them. He thinks that everyone involved, from the secretary of defense to the soldiers who pulled the trigger, should be prosecuted for a war crime. The judge also dismissed the White House's claim of self-defense. He argued that killing two people clinging to a boat for survival doesn't make sense. He stated that the law of armed conflict clearly says survivors must be rescued, not killed. Napolitano also pointed out that the term "narcoterrorist" is not a legal term, but a political one. He believes that using this term to justify the killings could be seen as a war crime. He expressed that he doesn't enjoy accusing officials of such serious crimes, but he feels it's important to be intellectually honest about what he's observing.