Hegseth calls impeachment articles a sabotage attempt in rare press conference
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used his first press conference in more than six months to dismiss the impeachment articles filed by Representative Thomas Massie as baseless and politically motivated, while defending US military operations including those in Iran.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed an attempt to impeach him as a political stunt and an act of sabotage, using his first press conference in more than six months to defend his record and the conduct of American military operations. Hegseth made the remarks after Representative Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against him, a move the defence secretary described as a « personal manifesto » rather than a serious constitutional process.
Hegseth told reporters the articles were baseless and that every operation carried out under his watch was lawful. He said the operations had been ordered by the commander-in-chief and notified to Congress, and he argued that they were part of a broader effort to degrade the capabilities of hostile regimes. The operations he cited included actions against Iran, action against drug cartels, operations in Yemen and steps related to Venezuela. He claimed the United States had destroyed the capabilities of terror regimes and had sunk boats smuggling drugs toward American communities. He also said that Nicolás Maduro had been captured and placed in handcuffs, presenting the episode as evidence that the administration was willing to act decisively.
The press conference was framed by Hegseth as a direct appeal to the public at a moment when his record is under sustained scrutiny. The prolonged conflict with Iran has drawn attention to the way the Pentagon is being run and to the decisions taken at the top of the department, and Hegseth chose to address those questions himself rather than leave them to be answered by critics in Congress and the press. He presented his defence in terms of legality and accountability to lawmakers, insisting that Congress had been kept informed throughout.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican who has been one of the most consistent critics of the administration's military posture, has tied the impeachment effort to the conduct of the Iran conflict and to the scrutiny it has generated. Hegseth rejected that framing and characterised the congressman's motives as driven by ego rather than by principle. The disagreement reflects a wider split over how much oversight Congress should exercise over military campaigns and whether the articles represent a legitimate constitutional challenge or a symbolic gesture.
The political picture remains uncertain. Donald Trump has urged congressional Republicans to back Hegseth, but it is not clear how much support the defence secretary enjoys within his own party. Massie has predicted that Hegseth will not be in office by the end of the year, a claim that has not been independently confirmed. Tabloid reports have described internal dissent within the Pentagon and speculated about a possible departure, but these accounts remain unverified and have not been confirmed by officials. It is also unclear whether the impeachment effort has any realistic prospect of passing, and the sources available do not indicate how many lawmakers are prepared to vote for it.
The episode unfolds against the backdrop of the approaching midterm elections, which are expected to shape how both parties approach national security and the handling of military operations. Hegseth's decision to hold a press conference, and the sharp language he used to describe the impeachment articles, signal that the fight over his leadership is likely to continue into the campaign season, with the Iran conflict remaining the central point of contention.
Source: mirror.co.uk
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