From ABC News · ABC News · · 1m 10s
Hegseth calls impeachment 'political spectacle'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as 'political spectacle' targeting troops.
In brief
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as 'political spectacle' targeting troops. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says impeachment resolution targets U.S. troops and signals to enemies that Congress will punish military for lawful operations. Originally reported by ABC News.
Hegseth dismisses impeachment
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the impeachment effort a 'political spectacle' targeting U.S. troops.
“What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment”
Impeachment resolution targets troops
Hegseth said the resolution 'puts a target on the backs' of U.S. troops and signals to enemies Congress will punish military for lawful operations.
“puts a target on the backs”
Hegseth frames impeachment as partisan
Hegseth described the efforts to impeach him as 'partisan politics' that mock the Constitution and attack military chain of command.
“mock the Constitution, they attack the chain of command”
Hegseth claims lawful military actions
Hegseth said strikes on drug-smuggling boats and the Iran war were lawful actions directed by President Trump.
“lawful actions directed by President Donald Trump”
Hegseth rejects impeachment process
Hegseth argued no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached for lawful military operations, including successful ones.
“no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations”
Hegseth predicts impeachment failure
Hegseth said the House and Senate will fail to impeach him, referencing past impeachments of President Trump that failed.
“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”
The bottom line
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says impeachment resolution targets U.S. troops and signals to enemies that Congress will punish military for lawful operations.
