The Pentagon pointed to the IG's conclusion that Hegseth had the authority to declassify the strike information as an exoneration.
Democrats who were also briefed and saw video of the survivors being killed questioned the Trump administration’s rationale.
The Pentagon's watchdog found that Pete Hegseth put U.S. troops and their mission at risk when he used the Signal app to convey sensitive information.
Hegseth on Tuesday cited the “fog of war” in defending the follow-up strike, saying he could not see survivors.
