Hegseth blasts lawmakers on impeachment vote
From PBS NewsHour.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed efforts by outgoing Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and congressional Democrats to impeach him as "policy disagreements."
Hegseth, speaking Tuesday during his first Pentagon news briefing in six months, also criticized Massie’s impeachment resolution, filed a day earlier in the U.S. House, as personal.
“What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it’s not accountability,” Hegseth said. “It’s a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment – time for one man’s final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country and, most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it. It’s a farce and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it.”
Massie’s resolution mostly focuses on the war in Iran and accuses Hegseth of abusing “the powers of his high office” by, in part, unilaterally continuing U.S. military options against Iran “despite Congress’ exclusive constitutional authority to declare war and despite Congress’ formal action directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities.” The resolution also discusses Hegseth’s role in the strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the conflict in Yemen.
Hegseth said no Pentagon chief has ever been impeached “for carrying out lawful military operations, and in our case, successful ones at that.”
The House is expected to vote on the impeachment resolution later this week.
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Hegseth, speaking Tuesday during his first Pentagon news briefing in six months, also criticized Massie’s impeachment resolution, filed a day earlier in the U.S. House, as personal.
“What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it’s not accountability,” Hegseth said. “It’s a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment – time for one man’s final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country and, most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it. It’s a farce and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it.”
Massie’s resolution mostly focuses on the war in Iran and accuses Hegseth of abusing “the powers of his high office” by, in part, unilaterally continuing U.S. military options against Iran “despite Congress’ exclusive constitutional authority to declare war and despite Congress’ formal action directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities.” The resolution also discusses Hegseth’s role in the strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the conflict in Yemen.
Hegseth said no Pentagon chief has ever been impeached “for carrying out lawful military operations, and in our case, successful ones at that.”
The House is expected to vote on the impeachment resolution later this week.
Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show.
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