House members press State witnesses on U.S. maritime strikes and handling of two survivors
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Summary
Lawmakers pressed State Department witnesses about recent U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean, asking what information was shared with partner governments and whether survivors were repatriated without prosecution; State said Defense conducted strikes and State facilitated survivors' returns but was not privy to all operational details.
Several members pressed State Department witnesses about U.S. maritime strikes in the Caribbean and what information the U.S. provided to partner governments about suspects recovered from the water.
Ranking Member Castro asked specifically about an Oct. 29 strike that left two survivors. Katherine Duholme said the Department of Defense conducted the strike and that State "facilitated their return" to Ecuador and Colombia; she added she was not privy to the specific information Defense shared with those governments. "We facilitated their return, but it was conducted by the Department of War [sic], and they provided what information they were able to," Duholme said during questioning.
Members expressed concern that, if the U.S. asserted the survivors were drug traffickers, the governments receiving them should have been given evidence sufficient to prosecute. Several representatives also cited press reports about potential allied intelligence‑sharing suspensions and asked witnesses whether contingency plans existed if partners curtailed cooperation. Landberg and Duholme emphasized coordination with regional partners and noted there are multiple intelligence sources in the region.
The committee asked for additional documentation and clarity about interagency roles and information‑sharing practices; members said they would pursue follow‑up questions in writing and seek briefings from Defense on operational details not provided at the hearing.