The scrutiny over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon has been a long time coming on Capitol Hill.

 

Hegseth barely squeaked through his Senate confirmation process at the start of the year.

 

And lawmakers have been uneasy about the lack of information flowing from the Pentagon to Congress.

 

Now, lawmakers have announced an investigation into a military strike on a boat in the Caribbean that some have said raises questions of potential war crimes.

 

Associated Press Pentagon correspondent Ben Finley says Adm. Frank Bradley, who was the commander during the strikes, will face a closed door meeting with members of Congress on Thursday.

 

“Bradley is going to be facing some pretty pointed questions when he sits down with members of Congress. Some Democrats have alleged that a war crime occurred when the U.S. Military struck the survivors of that boat. Others have said they committed murder. The Trump administration says that the U.S. Military. Acted lawfully within the rules of armed conflict,” Finley said.

 

Hegseth has chided those second-guessing his actions.

 

And President Donald Trump is standing by Hegseth, whose Cabinet position is among the most important.

 

But Democratic voices in Congress are calling for Hegseth's resignation.

 

“It's unclear where this congressional inquiry is going to lead into this boat strike, but Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, has demanded to see the video of the attack,” Finley said.