After Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson declared the War Department was certain about the identities of supposed drug smugglers killed in boat strikes, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., had some questions about the intelligence. When Houlahan called on Wilson to appear before Congress, however, the outspoken 26-year-old spokesperson suddenly went silent.

“I can tell you that every single person who we have hit thus far who is in a drug boat carrying narcotics to the United States is a narcoterrorist. Our intelligence has confirmed that, and we stand by it,” Wilson said on Tuesday during a pseudo Pentagon press briefing where attendance was limited to media that have agreed to limits on the scope of their reporting.

“[O]ur intelligence absolutely confirms who these people are,” she said. “I can tell you that, without a shadow of a doubt, every single one of our military and civilian lawyers knows that these individuals are narcoterrorists.”

In exclusive comments to The Intercept, Houlahan expressed her doubts and demanded proof.

“If there is intelligence that ‘absolutely confirms’ this — present it. Come before the House or Senate Intelligence committees and let Congress provide the proper oversight and checks and balances the American people deserve,” said Houlahan, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “Put the whispers and doubts to rest once and for all. If there is intelligence to ‘absolutely confirm’ this, the Congress is ready to receive it. Until we all see it, you can surely understand why we are skeptical.”

Wilson – who touted a “new era” of working to “keep the American people informed and to ensure transparency” on Tuesday – did not respond to questions or requests for comment from The Intercept about Houlahan’s remarks or appearing before Congress.

In classified briefings to lawmakers and Congressional staff, the military has admitted that it does not know exactly who it’s killing in the boat strikes, according to seven government officials who have spoken with The Intercept.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said that........

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