Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth finds himself in lawmakers’ sights as GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) is poised to kick off the lame-duck session by reintroducing articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief.
Massie, who will soon leave Congress after losing his primary earlier this year, first launched the impeachment effort in September, accusing Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” He is expected to reintroduce the resolution Monday afternoon.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is likely to rise to the Speaker role come January, already said Sunday he is a “hard yes” on voting to impeach the Defense secretary. Jeffries was previously noncommittal on the resolution.
Hegseth, speaking Monday at the Naval War College, told reporters he's not worried about the impeachment effort, adding that the move is part of the "partisan political games Democrats have been playing for a very long time."
He also announced that he would hold a press conference on Tuesday.
Why is Hegseth in hot water?: The Pentagon chief has long been the subject of harsh criticism from lawmakers, including Republicans like Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.). The articles in Massie’s September resolution included charges tied to the Iran war and the U.S. military’s killings of alleged drug traffickers.
What are the chances he is impeached?: If lame-duck Republican lawmakers with nothing to lose decide to vote with likely every Democrat to impeach Hegseth, there’s a chance the resolution will pass the House.
GOP Rep. French Hill (Ark.), asked during a Sunday interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” whether he supports impeaching Hegseth, did not give a direct answer. But he noted he is not satisfied with how the Iran war has been handled. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who has repeatedly been critical of the Defense chief, told Fox News that he is “weighing” whether Hegseth’s actions are impeachable.
Regardless, it is unlikely there will be enough votes to convict Hegseth in the Senate, with Republicans still in the majority for the next two months.
Who is defending Hegseth?: President Trump has stood behind his Defense secretary. Stephen Miller, Trump’s new chief of staff, also has Hegseth’s back, a senior administration official told NewsNation.
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