House Democrats are set to introduce five articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a new report.
Axios detailed that he will be accused of abuse of power and war crimes, among other charges. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, the the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress, is introducing the articles. It is being co-sponsored by eight other lawmakers.
The initiative practically has no chances of passing in Congress as Republicans control both chambers of Congress, and a two-thirds Senate majority would be required to convict. However, it could put the spotlight on Hegseth, as Democrats turn their attention to another member of Trump's cabinet after the ousting of Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson rejected the move in a statement, calling it "just another Democrat trying to make headlines as the Department of War decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the Presidents' objectives in Iran."
She went on to say that Hegseth "will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength."
The resolution is focused on actions during the war in Iran, Hegseth's alleged misconduct and Signalgate, where he stands accused of revealing classified information ahead of a strike against Yemen's Houthi rebels earlier in the administration.
The first one claims that the administration launched strikes in Iran without seeking congressional approval first, as well as Hegseth approving "plans involving extreme and unnecessary risk to United States personnel and interests."
The second says the secretary "authorized, condoned, or failed to prevent" operations that resulted in "large numbers of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Iran," including the bombing a girls' school in Minab.
Ansari had also called on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump, citing what she described as "deranged statements" about the conflict.
This won't be the first attempt to impeach Hegseth. In December, Rep. Shri Thanedar accused him of "Murder and Conspiracy to Murder and Reckless and Unlawful Mishandling of Classified Information."
