Pete Hegseth pushes back against Thomas Massie’s impeachment efforts: ‘It’s a farce and it’s a stunt’
Amid major congressional reshuffling following the midterms, calls to impeach United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have gained momentum. Representative Thomas Massie is leading the movement, having reintroduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth. On Tuesday, Hegseth dismissed the efforts as a “political spectacle” during a press conference, while defending his actions concerning Iran and other matters. He said, “It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it.”
Hegseth also signalled at having become a victim of political vindication. He said, “It tells our enemies, Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching, that the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations.”
On the same day as Hegseth’s speech, the House voted 211–204 to halt the impeachment efforts against him, with several Democrats absent. The issue now returns to the House Judiciary Committee, which will determine next steps. With many Democrats expected to be sworn in early January, impeachment efforts against Hegseth are likely to regain momentum once they take power, even if they do not succeed right away.
Hegseth spoke about the impeachment efforts against Trump
President Donald Trump is no stranger to impeachment, having faced it twice during his first term, once in 2019 and again in 2021. Although both efforts passed the House, the Senate acquitted him each time.
During the press conference, Hegseth referred to impeachment efforts against Trump and said, “Both times they failed, both times he came back stronger, and the American people sent him back to the White House.” He added, “Now they’re trying a third time, this time against a member of his Cabinet. They will fail again, and if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I’ll take that company every day of the week.”
Trump also addressed the matter in a social media post. He wrote, “Pete Hegseth gets an “A” PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!”
A vote that raises questions
Eleven Democrats were absent when the House voted down efforts to send articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth to the Senate. Shortly afterward, Representative Melanie Stansbury’s official social media page explained why she, like many other members of Congress, had missed the vote.
While it is unclear whether all absences had the same cause, the post stated, “Like other Members of Congress, Rep.Stansbury was blocked from entering the Capitol to vote due a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus during the vote.” The post also mentioned that by the time she reached the chamber, the vote had just “gaveled out.” It noted that she immediately filed a report recording her “No” vote, which was intended to defeat the impeachment articles against Hegseth.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
