Hegseth pushes back
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday dismissed a renewed effort in the House to bring articles of impeachment against him, which could come as early as next week, NBC News reported. He responded in a video posted on social media that ran more than five minutes.
Hegseth said "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." He added, "It's all about the politics of personal destruction," and said it "didn't work against President Trump, and it won't work with me."
According to NBC News, Hegseth touched only briefly on the Iran war in the video. The war has been a driving force behind the impeachment effort, as well as Republican losses in this week's midterm elections, the outlet reported.
Massie's plan
Hegseth was referring to Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, who said Wednesday that he plans to reintroduce articles of impeachment when the House is back in session. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Washington on Monday. Massie lost his GOP primary after crossing Trump, NBC News noted.
Massie wrote that there is "one contingency in which I won't reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns." On Thursday he urged Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still hold a majority in the Senate.
Massie described his resolution on X as "a much gentler version of what's coming when Dem's control Congress," adding, "They'll have hearings & trials."
Democrats and the White House
Numerous Democrats have signaled a desire to oust Hegseth since their midterm wins, NBC News reported. They include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is poised to become the next speaker.
Trump said Wednesday that he is not planning to replace Hegseth. On Thursday he said Hegseth "has done a fantastic job" and "probably has opposition" over actions he has taken, including purging military leadership.
Yet two people familiar with the discussions told NBC News this week that Trump has told some allies he is considering replacing Hegseth and has asked who they think should succeed him. The outlet noted that Trump has previously insisted he was not considering dismissing department heads just days before they were removed.
Obstacles and history
Massie tried to force a vote on impeaching Hegseth in September, but that effort stalled when House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, sent the House home early, according to NBC News.
For the measure to succeed, Massie would need several Republicans to join all Democrats in supporting it. The House has impeached only two Cabinet officials in history: Alejandro Mayorkas, President Joe Biden's homeland security secretary, in a partisan vote, and William Belknap, the secretary of war in the 1870s. No Cabinet member has ever been convicted by the Senate, NBC News reported.
