US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, likely to become the first Black Speaker of the House after the Democrats’ victory in the midterms, has come out in support of impeaching defence secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of abusing his power and undermining national security.
His remarks came as efforts to oust the Pentagon chief picked up steam after US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance appeared to blame the Iran war, championed by Hegseth, for the Republicans’ defeat on November 3.
It’s all about the politics of personal destruction — didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me,” he said in a social media post. Democrats have promised to investigate Hegseth, including his handling of the Iran war, purges of top military officers, Ukraine policy, strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in Latin America, which could amount to war crimes. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. “And what are we going to do with one of the guys that was most responsible? They want to impeach him,” he added. “A disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice.
Tillis said Hegseth’s strained relationship with lawmakers was undermining the Trump administration’s push for a $1.5 trillion defence spending package in Congress.
Thomas Massie , the outgoing lawmaker who has often clashed with Trump, said last week that he will “definitely” reintroduce articles of impeachment when the House reconvenes. Earlier, Republican US Senator Thom Tillis told CBS News that Hegseth had a reckoning coming after the midterm rout. The US President told reporters in Florida on Sunday that Hegseth was crucial to “basically winning two wars” – the Iran war and the US military action that removed Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro from power.
Massie also suggested that Trump fire Hegseth quickly so the Senate could confirm his successor before the Democrats take control in January.
