'Admirals have receipts': Hegseth warned subordinates will have evidence of his orders

Should a serious inquiry be conducted by Congress into the reported killing of two survivors left clinging to a vessel after a kinetic strike on an alleged drug-running boat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be prepared to face military officials who will go in prepared to defend themselves.

Late Monday, the Wall Street Journal editorial page editors suggested, “If Mr. Hegseth is right, then the factual record will support him. There are layers of bureaucracy between the Secretary of Defense and the business end of a missile. You can bet senior military officers bought insurance on their own careers by recording the advice they gave and the directions they received.”

Using that as a jumping-off point, MS NOW host Joe Scarborough agreed and pointed out that the Pentagon chief could find himself in a war with his subordinates as he tries to fend off blame — and they will likely come with “receipts.”

After noting that Admiral Alvin Holsey, former head of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees all military activity in the Caribbean and South America, resigned abruptly after the supposed drug interdiction attacks began, the “Morning Joe” co-host remarked, “Think about how chilling it is for Pete Hegseth that you have somebody who resigned in anger reportedly over this, and also, as David Ignatius said, well, actually, he's quoting the Wall Street Journal editorial page — these admirals, these officers, they have receipts.”

“They aren't going to do this without making sure they have evidence of authority sent by Pete Hegseth,” he predicted. “Which is why I'm just — I personally believe — which is why the White House had to come out yesterday and admit this happened and not blame it, as Pete Hegseth did, on lefty fake news reporters.”

- YouTubeyoutu.be