Hegseth mocks impeachment push as House returns to Washington
The Defense Secretary called the renewed effort a political stunt, while Rep. Thomas Massie warned that Democrats will pursue harsher measures if Republicans do not act.
By Rebecca Foster ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed a renewed House effort to impeach him on Thursday, calling the move a political stunt by a defeated Republican and his Democratic allies. The House is scheduled to return to Washington on Monday, setting the stage for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to reintroduce articles of impeachment against the secretary.
In a video posted to social media, Hegseth compared the effort to the two impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. He described Massie as a disgruntled and defeated congressman who is pursuing personal destruction. Hegseth stated that the strategy did not work against Trump and would not work against him.
Massie lost his Republican primary after crossing paths with President Trump. On Thursday, he urged Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still hold a majority in the Senate. Massie argued that his current resolution is a gentler version of what Democrats will pursue if they gain control of Congress, including holding hearings and trials.
The Secretary of Defense said he would only drop the effort if Hegseth resigns. The Iran war serves as a driving force behind the push to remove Hegseth, a factor that also contributed to Republican losses in this week’s midterm elections. Hegseth touched briefly on the conflict during his more than five-minute video response.
President Trump stated on Wednesday that he does not plan to replace Hegseth. On Thursday, he said Hegseth has done a fantastic job, noting that the secretary likely has opposition regarding his actions, such as purging military leadership. Two people familiar with the discussions told NBC News this week that Trump has privately asked allies who should succeed Hegseth, a move that contradicts his previous insistence that he would not dismiss department heads just before their departure.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is poised to become the next speaker, has indicated a desire to oust Hegseth following the midterm election wins. Massie attempted to force a vote on impeachment in September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent lawmakers home early to stunt the effort. Massie will need several Republicans to join all Democrats to pass the measure.
The House has impeached only two Cabinet officials in history. Those were Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary under former President Joe Biden, and William Belknap, the secretary of war in the 1870s. No Cabinet members have ever been convicted by the Senate.
