WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dug in for a fight Tuesday against his potential impeachment in Congress, contending that a rogue lawmaker is undermining American troops in war zones by targeting him over mere “policy disagreements” and not the high crimes required in the Constitution for his possible removal.
The embattled Pentagon chief has launched a counteroffensive against outgoing Republican Rep.
Thomas Massie’s effort to force him from office over his handling of the unpopular Iran war and other actions.
A House vote on whether to move forward with the impeachment is expected later Tuesday.
Hegseth gave a defiant and politicised defense of his stewardship of the US military in his first news conference at the Pentagon in six months.
He chose to hit back at the rising bipartisan anger over battlefield strategy while offering few details about intermittent operations against Iran or fatal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in Latin America.
President Donald Trump praised Hegseth’s performance in a social media post.
Hegseth framed the impeachment effort as an indictment against the nation’s service members and their successes while undermining American forces “in real time.”
“This is not patriotism,” Hegseth said.
“This is sabotage.”
Hegseth said the impeachment resolution “tells our enemies — Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching — the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations.”
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