Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will hold a rare Pentagon news briefing Tuesday morning, as lawmakers are
this week.
asserted
lawmakers → hold → briefing
The briefing, set for 8 a.m. ET, comes one day after Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced updated articles of impeachment against Hegseth.
asserted
Massie → set → Hegseth
The resolution accuses Hegseth of abusing his office by launching the without congressional approval, ignoring laws designed to minimize civilian casualties and retaliating against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, among other allegations.
asserted
resolution → accuse → allegations
Under House rules, the chamber has two legislative days to schedule a vote.
asserted
chamber → have → vote
Massie, a Kentucky Republican, has criticized Hegseth for months.
asserted
Massie → criticize → months
But his renewed impeachment push follows Republicans' sweeping defeats in the midterms, which members of both parties blamed on the Iran war and soaring energy prices.
asserted
members → renew → war
The war's status is unclear: President Trump
he plans to maintain the "status quo" and doesn't believe escalating the war will be necessary.
uncertain
escalating → plan → war
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents New York, said Monday afternoon he's a "hard yes" on the impeachment resolution, telling reporters Hegseth "abused his power" and is the "architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran."
asserted
Hegseth → represent → Iran
It remains to be seen whether Republicans other than Massie will vote in favor of the articles of impeachment.
asserted
Republicans → remain → impeachment
Massie said Monday afternoon he did not have a commitment from any other Republicans that they would support it.
asserted
they → say → it
Until Democrats take control of the House in January, any impeachment effort would need support from at least three Republicans — if all Democrats vote in favor and depending on any absences.
asserted
Democrats → take → absences
Removing Hegseth from office by convicting him in the Senate is a much heavier lift, requiring more than a dozen Republicans to join the effort.
asserted
Removing → remove → effort
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told CBS News "impeaching a Cabinet secretary right now … in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look."
asserted
impeaching → tell → hostilities
Other Republicans have not definitively ruled it out.
asserted
Republicans → rule → it
said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" over the weekend: "I want to hear the debate on it to see if it merits impeachment versus some other disciplinary action or action by the president if he's not getting the job done in leading the Department of War.
asserted
job → say → War
"Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate who is retiring in January, said Monday he's "wrestling" with the issue, telling reporters, "I don't think he's been a good secretary, but do you impeach a guy for that?"
asserted
you → retire → that
Asked by reporters about the impeachment bid, Hegseth said Monday, "We're not worried about that."
asserted
We → ask → that
He said Tuesday's news conference would focus on the impeachment.
asserted
conference → say → impeachment
In a social media video last week, Hegseth criticized Massie, who is leaving Congress in January after losing his primary to a Trump-backed challenger.
asserted
who → criticize → challenger
"A disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice," Hegseth said in the video.
asserted
Hegseth → defeat → video
Mr. Trump told reporters Monday he will stand by Hegseth if he's impeached, defending his Pentagon chief and calling Massie a "stone-cold loser."
"What has Hegseth done?" he said.
asserted
he → tell → What
"Pete Hegseth won two wars.
asserted
Hegseth → win → wars
'Oh, let's impeach him.'"
Massie said Monday: "I would like to see him go through the eight articles of impeachment.
asserted
him → let → impeachment
You can use notes.
asserted
You → use → notes
Get the lawyers to help you.
asserted
lawyers → get → you
Tell us why you are not guilty of each of these eight articles of impeachment."
asserted
you → tell → impeachment
The Aporia
