WASHINGTON (AURN News) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back Tuesday against an impeachment effort launched a day earlier by a House Republican.
“What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it’s not accountability. It’s a political spectacle,” Hegseth said. He made the remarks at his first Pentagon news conference in six months.
The push comes from inside his own party. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., filed eight articles of impeachment. The articles accuse Hegseth of waging war against Iran without congressional authorization, overseeing deadly boat strikes that included follow-up attacks on survivors and retaliating against U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for speaking out about unlawful military orders.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that he was a “hard yes” on Massie’s resolution. He said Congress has a duty to hold the executive branch accountable.
As of Oct. 28, 21 U.S. service members had died in the war, according to Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. The Pentagon estimated the cost at $47.1 billion through Oct. 16. Even Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for Republicans’ midterm losses.
The House could vote Tuesday on a procedural motion related to the impeachment resolution. If the House impeaches Hegseth, the Republican-controlled Senate could dismiss the charges or hold a trial. Conviction would require a two-thirds vote of senators present.
