Politics · India Bureau
US Defence Secretary Hegseth Denies Impeachment Bid, Calls Move Political
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has rejected an impeachment effort against him as politically motivated, arguing that no US defence secretary has been removed for executing lawful military operations in the nation's 250-year history.
LSN India ·
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his record Tuesday during his first Pentagon press briefing in six months, pushing back against an impeachment bid by outgoing Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican. Hegseth characterised the effort as a politically driven attack rooted in policy disagreements rather than legitimate grounds for removal.
"In the 250 years of our American republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defence has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations," Hegseth told reporters at the Defence Department headquarters. He vowed to challenge what he described as a misuse of the constitutional impeachment process.
Massie's impeachment push centres on Hegseth's handling of military operations against Iran and other Pentagon actions. The congressman, who lost his primary race, has sought to hold the defence chief accountable over what he views as controversial decisions. Hegseth's press briefing marked a rare public appearance as the US military has maintained ongoing operations in the Middle East and conducted strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in Latin America.
The confrontation underscores broader tensions within the Republican party and divergent views on America's military engagements abroad. Hegseth's defence suggests the Pentagon intends to vigorously counter the impeachment effort in Congress.