Hegseth slams his potential impeachment as political spectacle as House vote looms

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reacted today to articles of impeachment filed against him by a Republican congressman. It is the first time Hegseth has held a press conference in months. ABC's Karen Travers has the latest from the White House. Defense Secretary Hegseth was defiant, calling this impeachment effort a farce and comparing it to the impeachments of President Trump. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth mounting a vigorous defense of himself the day after eight articles of impeachment were filed against him by outgoing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight. And it's not accountability, it's a political spectacle. Hegseth saying that no defense secretary has ever been impeached for what he says were lawful military operations. That's what it is, policy disagreements. Not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause. But Massie says Hegseth has violated the Constitution, accusing him of illegally launching the Iran war without congressional approval, endangering members of the military, and killing hundreds of civilians in boat strikes against alleged drug smugglers. There's no argument in these impeachment articles that he's in effect. The argument here is that he's broken laws and he's violated the constitution. President Trump on social media giving Hegseth's press conference a quote, a Plus, plus, plus, and criticizing Massie as disgruntled and defeated. Monday night, the president telling reporters he's standing by Hegseth. Yeah, I'll stand by. Massey has told ABC he's confident there will be enough Republicans voting for his resolution for it to pass. It needs a simple majority, meaning that just three Republicans need to vote with all Democrats for it to prevail. Impeachment is clearly going to die in the Senate no matter what happens today. Tonight the House will hold its first vote related to Congressman Massey's impeachment resolution. It's expected to be a Republican effort to block the measure and effectively kill the impeachment. Reporting from the White House, Karen Travers, Channel 6 Action News.