- The war in Iran is at the center of the allegations against Hegseth, with three of the eight articles of impeachment specifically relating to the conflict.
- Other allegations include that Hegseth illegally started military conflict in Venezuela and Yemen.
What they say: “Did Pete Hegseth commit impeachable crimes? The question is absurd and the answer is: obviously not,” Vance said Tuesday on X.
- “Like much of Congress, impeachment has become a ridiculous spectacle that replaces real policymaking. Congress has so many tools to record its policy disagreements.”
- Vance added that Congress chose to impeach Hegseth as it did President Trump. “Legislation is difficult. Impeachments are easy (and ultimately inconsequential).”
- “The irony is that lawmakers are angrier with Pete on the issues he is most right on: repositioning forces out of Europe/Ukraine and reorganizing the general officer corps,” he continued. “It’s not about Iran, it’s about Pete taking on the Pentagon bureaucracy.”
Catch up quickly: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, potentially paving the way for the first impeachment of a Cabinet secretary in Trump’s second term and signaling possible future efforts when Democrats take control of Congress in January.
- Although Republicans have previously resisted efforts to limit the administration’s military operations in Iran, some may be more willing to support Hegseth’s impeachment after voters showed strong disapproval of the administration and the war in Iran during the midterm elections.
- Hegseth compared Massie’s efforts to oust him to Democrats’ successful impeachments of President Trump, saying the president was impeached following a “perfect phone call.”
What we’re looking at: The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to hold a preliminary impeachment vote Tuesday afternoon, but even if Congress impeaches Hegseth, removal would require a two-thirds vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Go further: Hegseth faces GOP impeachment resolution with little to lose
Editor’s note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Gn headline
