Massie Calls for New USS Liberty Investigation in Fiery House Speech

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) used a floor speech on the 59th anniversary of the USS Liberty attack to call for a new investigation into one of the most controversial incidents in modern U.S. naval history, arguing that surviving crew members deserve “closure” and “justice “while they are still alive.”

Massie, speaking on the House floor on June 8, described the attack on the USS Liberty during the 1967 Six-Day War and criticized both the original investigation and decades of congressional inaction. He also entered into the Congressional Record a declaration from the late Capt. Ward Boston, former chief counsel to the Navy Court of Inquiry, who later argued that the official “investigation” was flawed.

The USS Liberty was a U.S. Navy intelligence-gathering ship operating in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula on June 8, 1967, when it came under attack from Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats during the Six-Day War. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, 34 Americans were killed and 171 were wounded in the attack.

Israel later stated that the strike was a case of mistaken identity. The United States accepted the explanation at the time, although the incident has remained the subject of debate for decades.

During his speech, Massie noted that several USS Liberty survivors were present in Washington and had met with him before he took the House floor.

“It’s my great honor—maybe one of the biggest honors of my lifetime—to stand here on the floor and do something that’s 59 years overdue, to recognize the survivors and those who gave their lives on the USS Liberty,” Massie said.

Massie recounted the attack in detail, describing Israeli aircraft strafing the ship before torpedo boats launched attacks that tore a large hole in the vessel. He also repeated long-standing reports from survivors that Israeli forces machine-gunned life rafts and targeted sailors attempting to aid the wounded.

Military.com contacted Massie’s office, inquiring whether the congressman plans to pursue legislation, support a congressional investigation, or take additional action related to the USS Liberty. A spokesperson said they could not provide further comment beyond his House floor remarks.

Questioning the Official Narrative

The Kentucky Republican went beyond simply commemorating the anniversary.

Massie cited myriad individuals, including former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, former CIA Director Richard Helms, former NSA Director Bobby Ray Inman, former chief counsel to the Navy Court of Inquiry Ward Boston and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Thomas Moorer—all of whom questioned whether the attack was accidental.

“If you listen to Dean Rusk, Richard Helms, Bobby Ray Inman, Capt. Ward Boston…none of these distinguished men think this was an accident,” Massie said.

He also highlighted Boston’s later criticism of the original Navy inquiry.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Massie requested unanimous consent to place Boston’s declaration into the Congressional Record, stating that the declaration argued “the only official court of inquiry was invalid.”

Calling for Congressional Action

The most significant portion of Massie’s remarks may be what he believes Congress should do next.

Rather than merely recognizing the anniversary, Massie called for a new investigation and suggested Congress should formally honor the survivors.

“I’ve got a call to action for everybody here,” said Massie, who recently lost his GOP primary and will not return to Congress in January. “Honor these individuals. Quit ignoring that they exist.”

He then urged lawmakers to revisit the incident directly.

“Let’s have an investigation. Let’s pass a resolution honoring them. It’s long overdue.”

Massie did not specify what form a new investigation should take, whether he intends to introduce legislation, or whether other members of Congress have agreed to support such an effort. He also did not elaborate on what specific outcome would constitute the closure and justice he said survivors deserve.