By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized efforts to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, Nov. 10, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated and accusing members of Congress of substituting impeachment proceedings for substantive legislation.
In a statement posted on X, Vance rejected accusations that Hegseth committed impeachable offenses and argued that congressional opposition stems primarily from the defense secretary’s efforts to restructure the Pentagon.
“Has Pete Hegseth committed impeachable crimes? The question is absurd and the answer is: obviously not,” Vance wrote.
“Like so much of Congress, impeachment has become a ridiculous show that stands in for actual policymaking.”
The vice president’s remarks came as the House prepared for a procedural vote on eight articles of impeachment introduced Monday by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who alleges that Hegseth violated federal law and constitutional restrictions governing military operations.
Vance argued that lawmakers already possess legislative mechanisms for challenging executive branch decisions and should use those powers instead of pursuing impeachment.
According to Axios’ coverage of his remarks, Vance accused Congress of relying on impeachment proceedings because passing legislation requires greater political effort.
“Legislation is hard. Impeachments are easy (and ultimately, inconsequential),” Vance wrote.
He also disputed the contention that the impeachment effort primarily concerns the administration’s military campaign against Iran.
“The irony is that legislators are most angry at Pete on the issues where he’s most correct: repositioning forces away from Europe/Ukraine and reorganizing the general officer corps,” Vance continued.
“This isn’t about Iran, this is about the fact that Pete took on the bureaucracy at the Pentagon.”
The comments placed Vance firmly behind Hegseth as Republican leaders confronted a possible division within their narrow House majority.
Massie’s resolution includes eight articles accusing the defense secretary of violating his constitutional responsibilities through military actions involving Iran, Venezuela, Yemen and suspected drug-trafficking operations in international waters.
Three articles specifically concern the Iran conflict, including allegations that Hegseth participated in military operations without obtaining the congressional authorization required under the War Powers Resolution.
Other articles challenge the legality of U.S. operations abroad, the protection of civilians during military action and the Pentagon’s treatment of Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
The impeachment resolution published by Massie’s congressional office calls for Hegseth’s removal from office and disqualification from holding future federal positions.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and Hegseth denies wrongdoing.
Massie has maintained that the dispute concerns alleged violations of the Constitution rather than disagreements over the secretary’s leadership or military effectiveness.
According to CBS News’ reporting on the impeachment effort, Massie argued that lawmakers must determine whether Hegseth committed impeachable acts regardless of their views about his performance.
“The question is whether he committed impeachable acts,” Massie said. “And the answer is yes, eight times.”
The Kentucky Republican introduced the resolution as a privileged measure, forcing House leaders to address the articles within a limited legislative period.
A procedural vote scheduled for Tuesday evening could determine whether the House advances the impeachment charges or blocks their immediate consideration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has opposed the impeachment effort, warning that attempting to remove the defense secretary during ongoing military operations would send a damaging message.
President Donald Trump also defended Hegseth following a Pentagon news conference Tuesday morning.
Trump praised the secretary’s response to Massie’s allegations and criticized the Kentucky congressman, who lost his Republican primary earlier this year but remains in office until January.
Hegseth used the briefing to reject the impeachment effort as an attempt to punish him over disputed military policies.
According to The Associated Press’ coverage, Hegseth characterized the charges as disagreements over executive branch decisions rather than constitutional offenses.
He argued that lawmakers should pursue legislation, public debate or electoral remedies if they oppose the administration’s policies.
Hegseth also defended American service members carrying out military operations and criticized the timing of the impeachment effort, which comes immediately before Veterans Day.
Vance’s intervention highlighted a broader disagreement over the constitutional authority of Congress to scrutinize military decisions.
Under the Constitution, the House has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate conducts impeachment trials and determines whether an official should be removed.
The Constitution identifies treason, bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors as grounds for impeachment. The meaning and application of that standard have been debated throughout American history.
Massie argues that alleged violations of congressional war powers and federal law warrant impeachment. Vance and other administration officials maintain that the accusations concern policy disputes and do not meet the constitutional standard.
The controversy has also exposed divisions within the Republican Party over the administration’s military strategy.
Massie has repeatedly questioned the legality of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts without explicit congressional authorization.
Vance, meanwhile, has defended Hegseth’s changes to military leadership and deployments, including efforts to reduce some American commitments in Europe and shift strategic priorities.
The administration maintains that those reforms are necessary to improve military readiness and reorganize the armed forces.
Critics have questioned whether some restructuring decisions and foreign military operations have received adequate congressional oversight.
The impeachment effort comes one week after the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of Congress beginning in January 2027.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has publicly supported impeachment, raising the prospect of additional proceedings if the current House does not advance Massie’s resolution.
However, the immediate decision rests with lawmakers in the outgoing Congress.
The House’s scheduled procedural vote could refer the resolution to committee, table it or allow further debate on the eight articles.
A successful impeachment would require a simple majority of the House. Removal would require conviction by a two-thirds majority of senators present.
As lawmakers prepared to vote, Vance’s statement reinforced the Trump administration’s defense of Hegseth and its contention that the impeachment effort is driven by opposition to Pentagon reforms.
Massie maintains that Congress has a constitutional obligation to investigate alleged violations of law, regardless of the political consequences.
The dispute leaves lawmakers confronting two competing interpretations of the defense secretary’s conduct: whether his actions represent lawful military and administrative decisions or constitutional violations warranting impeachment.
Tuesday’s House proceedings will determine whether the allegations advance toward a formal impeachment vote or are halted through procedural action.
Original article
Comments