NOW PLAYING
Take a look at this: “The prosecutor investigating U.S. boat strikes and torture allegations in Ecuador in connection with the Trump war crimes, blowing up those boats off the coast of Venezuela, the prosecutor was assassinated.”
That clip references an alarming report from Drop Site News, reported by Camila Lourdes Galarza, that raises serious allegations and deserves far more public scrutiny.
According to Drop Site, Ecuadorian prosecutor Alexandra Bravo was investigating allegations that U.S. forces attacked three Ecuadorian fishing boats earlier this year, leaving some fishermen missing and others claiming they were abducted, tortured and later abandoned in Central America. Bravo was shot and killed in June, along with her sister, in what police describe as an assassination carried out by a hitman on a black motorcycle.
Now, it’s important to separate what is known from what remains unproven.
There is no public evidence linking Bravo’s murder directly to her investigation, and Ecuadorian authorities have not said that was the motive. Human rights attorneys interviewed by Drop Site argue that prosecutors investigating powerful interests often face extraordinary risks in Ecuador, where dozens of judicial officials have been killed in recent years. But whether her murder was connected to this case remains under investigation.
The underlying allegations are also significant. Survivors claim drones struck civilian fishing vessels before armed English-speaking men wearing U.S. military-style uniforms detained them for days. The report includes survivor testimony, satellite imagery analyzed by outside experts, eyewitness accounts, and vessel-tracking data that Drop Site says corroborate those claims.
The U.S. government has repeatedly denied responsibility. The Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command, and the Coast Guard have all said they have no knowledge of or involvement in the attacks. The Coast Guard has acknowledged conducting search-and-rescue operations in the area but disputes the fishermen’s account.
Drop Site notes that its reporting, including Coast Guard vessel tracking data, eyewitness video, and survivor testimony, raises enough questions to challenge the government’s blanket denials and justify an independent investigation.
If the United States had absolutely nothing to do with these incidents, then a thorough investigation should clear that up, quickly. But if there was any U.S. involvement, Americans deserve to know. We’re talking about allegations of military action against civilians outside a declared battlefield — something that, if true, raises serious questions under international law.
My concern isn’t about rushing to judgment. It’s actually the opposite.
There simply isn’t enough verified public information right now. That lack of transparency creates space for speculation, mistrust and competing narratives. The public shouldn’t have to rely solely on investigative journalists to understand allegations this serious. Congress should have answers, and so should the American people.
Illinois Congressman Chuy García recently wrote on X: “For almost a year, the U.S. government has been illegally bombing fishing boats and killing people without evidence of wrongdoing. And last month, Alexandra Bravo, the Ecuadorian prosecutor investigating boats that were attacked or disappeared, was murdered. This is not a coincidence. There must be an independent investigation.”
The Washington Post published a piece yesterday stating that the U.S. Operation Southern Spear campaign has carried out at least 67 boat strikes that have killed at least 221 people since last September. But according to internal DEA assessments obtained by the newspaper, the campaign has not significantly reduced the supply of cocaine entering the United States, despite repeated public claims from President Trump that maritime drug trafficking has been nearly eliminated. The Post also reports that Pentagon officials privately acknowledged to lawmakers that these strikes are “probably not the most effective tool.”
Together, the two investigations raise bigger questions about both the effectiveness and accountability of this military campaign. If hundreds of people have been killed, Congress says it still doesn’t have complete answers, and allegations of civilian casualties remain unresolved, then transparency isn’t optional. If the United States is operating overseas, Americans deserve to know whether those operations are effective, whether they’re lawful under international law, and whether innocent people are being caught in the crossfire.
Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Assassination boat strikes EcuadorCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Opinions - Lindsey's Lens News
See All
Opinions - Lindsey's Lens Ken Martin has been a disaster for Dems by Lindsey Granger, opinion contributor 1 day ago Opinions - Lindsey's Lens / 1 day ago 
