Pentagon Chief Hegseth Calls Impeachment a Political Staging
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth called the impeachment proceedings against him a "political staging" on Tuesday, defending his management of the Iran war and military operations under the Trump administration. Hegseth has been marginalized since the Republican midterm defeat on November 3, with Donald Trump and JD Vance blaming the Iran offensive for their electoral loss. Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican known for criticizing Trump, launched the impeachment resolution Monday, accusing Hegseth of waging war without congressional approval and violating civilian protection laws, including a bombing that killed 120 children. Trump defended Hegseth on Truth Social, praising his response to Massie. The House could vote as soon as Wednesday, though conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority, which appears difficult even after Democrats take control in January. Massie also cited "extrajudicial executions" of drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.