# Congress Can Charge Trump With Murder

> Trump's boat strikes kill suspected drug smugglers without trial, a high crime under U.S. law.
- Title: Congress Can Charge Trump With Murder · Slate Magazine
- Summary: Trump's boat strikes kill suspected drug smugglers without trial, a high crime under U.S. law. Trump's military strikes on suspected drug boats violate U.S…
- Keywords: congress, impeachment, president trump, military strikes, drug smuggling, high crimes, unlawful killing, fentanyl, narco-terrorist, military law, united states, presidential immunity
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/10/congress-donald-trump-high-crimes-murder.html?via=rss
- Author: Frank Bowman
- Published: 2026-10-19T09:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: congress, impeachment, president trump, military strikes, drug smuggling, high crimes, unlawful killing, fentanyl, narco-terrorist, military law, united states, presidential immunity
## Trump's boat strikes
President Donald Trump authorized military attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific suspected of drug smuggling starting Sept 2, 2025.
## First strike
The first attack occurred on Sept 2, 2025, with subsequent strikes hitting 70 vessels and killing 234 people by Sept 19, 2026.
## Military response
U.S. forces killed crew members without stopping boats, inspecting cargo, or arresting suspects after explosions.
## Survivors killed
In one instance, Navy Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley ordered military forces to kill survivors clinging to wreckage after explosions.
## Author's background
The author served six years as an assistant U.S. attorney in Miami prosecuting drug smuggling cases.
## Infrared footage
The author recognized Trump's boat attacks as similar to infrared surveillance footage used in drug cases but with no evidence of crime.
## No evidence of crime
U.S. forces rarely found proof that boats were smuggling drugs, with survivors released on foreign soil without legal recourse.
## Legal justification
The administration claims the strikes target fentanyl and narco-terrorist cartels, but Mexico is the main source of fentanyl, not South American countries.
## Legal memo
The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel claims the strikes are justified under armed conflict with nonstate-actor terrorist groups.
## Expert consensus
Experts agree the strikes violate military and international law, with the UN calling them potential crimes against humanity.
## Impeachment grounds
Trump's boat strikes constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under U.S. law, violating his constitutional duty to uphold the Constitution.
## Pardons contrast
Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht and Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted drug traffickers, while ordering boat strikes on suspected smugglers.
## Impeachment feasibility
Impeachment may hold Trump accountable for the deaths, but public opinion supports the strikes at 48 percent approval.
## Recommendation
Congress should investigate the boat strikes but include charges only if public opinion turns against Trump on the issue.
## Key takeaway

Trump's military strikes on suspected drug boats violate U.S. law and international standards, making them a constitutional impeachable offense.