Hegseth defends Iran war record, calls impeachment attempt 'sabotage'

Résumé détaillé

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on Tuesday on Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's efforts to impeach him, describing them as a 'political spectacle', telling reporters that a rogue lawmaker is targeting him over 'policy disagreements'.

WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on Tuesday on Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s efforts to impeach him, describing them as a “political spectacle”, telling reporters that a rogue lawmaker is targeting him over “policy disagreements”.

The embattled Pentagon chief spoke at his first press briefing from the five-sided building in six months, launching a counteroffensive against the outgoing Congressman's effort to impeach him over his handling of the unpopular war against Iran and other actions.

“In the 250 years of our American republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations,” Hegseth told reporters.

Hegseth only called on right-wing media outlets when answering questions during the press conference. President Donald Trump posted to social media moments after it ended, saying that Hegseth “gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS” for his defense against efforts to impeach him.

The briefing was Hegseth’s first since May, even as the US military has kept up intermittent operations against Iran as well as fatal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in Latin America.

Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed opponent, filed the impeachment resolution in the House on Monday. It sets the stage for a dramatic vote on whether to remove a prominent Trump administration figure following sweeping losses for Republicans in last week’s midterm elections that many at least partly blamed on the Iran conflict and its economic impact.

The resolution largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth’s role in military actions in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela. Massie said Hegseth’s actions amount to “high crimes and misdemeanors” and his leadership at the Pentagon “warrants impeachment.”

What constitutes “high crimes and misdemeanors” is not spelled out in the Constitution, leaving it to lawmakers to decide what are…

During his…

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