US Congress may consider impeachment of Pentagon chief Hegseth
Many lawmakers behind the scenes claim that he played the main role in Trump attacking Iran.
Pete Hegseth. Photo: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie wants to bring to a vote the question of impeaching US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Some of his fellow party members expect the House of Representatives to support this initiative, writes CNN.
Massie represents Kentucky and is known for his criticism of US President Donald Trump. According to him, he will initiate the procedure for the Pentagon chief's dismissal immediately after lawmakers return to Washington.
Several sources in the Republican Party said they expect the initiative to be approved by the House of Representatives. According to CNN, attempts to blame Hegseth for the war in Iran accelerated historical Republican failures in the November 3 midterm elections.
Many lawmakers behind the scenes claim that the Secretary played the main role in Trump attacking Iran. In their opinion, this happened without an exit strategy from the conflict and without a plan to manage its consequences.
Several Republicans told CNN that Hegseth overestimated the US's ability to quickly and easily win the conflict. They also accuse him of continuing to advocate for escalation, even though prolonged bombing has not brought Iran closer to surrender.
The Pentagon reacted sharply to this. Hegseth "will not back down and will not allow himself to be intimidated by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch bogus investigations where there is no wrongdoing," said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief press secretary.
To remove a minister through impeachment, a single vote in the lower house is not enough. The decision must also be supported by the Senate, where two-thirds of senators must vote for it.