Yes, I got an email response from Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick.
I'm just unsure as to what he's responding.
Let's take a look at what he wrote (full image of his text will be posted at the bottom of this page).
After a few paragraphs of introduction, the senator wrote:
At the Pentagon, Secretary Hegseth has prioritized restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence. I share these goals and intend to do my part as a U.S. Senator to further them.
Our military faces its most precarious moment since the Cold War. The United States and our unmatched network of allies and partners are confronting a new axis of authoritarian aggressors. It is critical to shift our focus away from previously proposed inflation-adjusting budget cuts, DEI initiatives, and climate change programs, and instead prioritize lethality and deterrence in the next generation of warfare. Our adversaries have a clear plan to reshape the U.S.-led international order and are rapidly advancing critical military technologies. Our response must be equally focused and resolute.
Now, let's go see to what this is a response.
There's this letter from December 8, 2025, wherein I asked:
I'll point out again that you took an oath when you became Senator to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" and, as you know, that's basically the same oath all officers in the United States Army take.
I'll make this week's questions simple.
Did Secretary Hegseth (or anyone under his command) commit war crimes by ordering the destruction of any of those alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean? This would include the story as reported in the media of the killing the two people clinging to the already destroyed boat.
That seems a little both a little too long ago (almost 4 months!) and a bit too specific for a general defense of Hegseth response.
Maybe it's this from March 15, 2026 (only 20 days ago), wherein I asked:
In a discussion about Trump's war on Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said (among many other things) this:
With every passing hour, we know and we know [Iran knows], that the military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling. They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate; they're confused and we know it.
Our response? We will keep pressing. We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.
It's that "no quarter" that's troubling.
And I go on to point out the potential war crime that might be threatening.
That seems closer.
SecDef/War Hegseth is mentioned more or less in passing in this blogpost from March 12, 2026. That blogpost was more about a letter signed by most of the Democrats in the Senate (though not Senator Fetterman) demanding an investigation into destruction of a elementary school in Iran by a US Tomahawk missile.
So it's probably not that one, either. But it's probably the one in the middle.
So think of that - when asked about Hegseth's threatened possible war crimes, Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick defends him by pointing out how he (Hegseth) "has prioritized restoring the warrior ethos."
Adding:
I share these goals and intend to do my part as a U.S. Senator to further them.
And:
It is critical to...prioritize lethality and deterrence in the next generation of warfare.
But not adherence to the Constitution or international law, apparently.
BTW, this would also apply to either of the other two examples. Ask about the destruction (without due process) in international waters of boats by Hegseth's DoD/W?
He's "prioritized restoring the warrior ethos" and I support him. - Dave McCormick.
Ask about the killing of school children by Hegseth's DoD/W?
He's "prioritized restoring the warrior ethos" and I support him. - Dave McCormick.
Thanks, Dave. Thanks for letting us know.
