House Democrat Yassamin Ansari led the impeachment proposal against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed on 15/4. The 7-page document accuses Hegseth of waging an "unauthorized war" in Iran, endangering US service members, violating armed conflict laws, mishandling sensitive military information, obstructing congressional oversight, abusing power, and damaging the military's reputation.
Notably, the articles detail accusations related to civilian casualties during the Iran conflict, including an airstrike on 28/2 that struck a girls' school, killing 168 people. The resolution also cites Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging application to discuss military operations, calling it an act of "gross negligence" in handling classified information. Furthermore, he is accused of failing to provide Congress with full details on operations in Iran and Venezuela.
Other articles allege that the defense secretary used his authority for political aims, undermining the military's apolitical nature and impacting US commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Democrats assert that Hegseth "willfully disregarded the Constitution, abused his authority, and acted contrary to the rule of law," thereby constituting grounds for impeachment based on "high crimes and misdemeanors."
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the Pentagon on 31/3. _AP_ |
However, the Democratic impeachment effort is unlikely to succeed in the House, given the Republican majority. Democrats may revive this effort after November if they gain a majority in the House during the midterm elections.
The Pentagon has rejected the accusations from House Democrats. Spokesperson Kingsley Wilson dismissed them as a "publicity stunt" ahead of the elections, affirming that Secretary Hegseth will continue his duties to protect national security. The White House also voiced support for the US defense secretary, stating that he is effectively fulfilling his current role, as demonstrated by military achievements in the US campaign in Iran.
Under the impeachment process, the House must review and vote on the articles of impeachment. If approved, the Senate would then conduct a trial to determine removal from office.
Historically, only two cabinet members have faced impeachment in the US. The first was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, who resigned before the Senate initiated a trial. The second was Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024, though the impeachment process was not approved by the Senate.
Thanh Danh (According to CBS, Hill, TIME)
