Impeachment Plan for Hegseth Gains Traction as Midterms Nearer

Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives are actively preparing to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move they intend to trigger if their party gains a strong position in the upcoming midterm elections. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal released on Friday, this strategic shift signals a potential high-stakes confrontation in Washington shortly after the November vote. The plan hinges on the Democrats securing enough seats to control the House, at which point they would launch the formal process to remove the secretary from his post.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries provided the clearest indication of this intent during a recent rally in Pennsylvania. He stated that one of the first actions the party would take upon achieving a majority is to run Hegseth out of town. This public declaration aligns with the broader strategy outlined in the report, suggesting that impeachment is not merely a reactive measure but a primary objective for the incoming leadership if the electoral results favor the Democrats.

Other prominent Democratic lawmakers have also voiced strong support for removing the defense secretary. Representative Pramila Jayapal characterized Hegseth as incompetent and frankly corrupt during an interview on CNN. Meanwhile, Representative Jared Huffman used more forceful language, describing him as an unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office. These comments reflect a growing consensus within the party that Hegseth’s tenure has become untenable and requires formal legislative action.

The push for impeachment is not limited to the opposition, as a Republican member has also joined the effort. In September, Representative Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Massie, who has been a vocal critic of the war in Iran and American aid to Israel, accused the secretary of abusing his office by ordering hostilities against Iran without obtaining approval from Congress. Massie has indicated that he plans to force an impeachment vote shortly after the House returns to session on November 9, which is the week following the elections.

This political maneuvering occurs against the backdrop of increased scrutiny regarding Hegseth’s recent overseas activities. The defense secretary held a covert meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base on Monday. This meeting took place just days before Israel's own election. Two sources confirmed the details to Walla on Tuesday, and Reuters reported that Hegseth acknowledged the visit occurred but declined to elaborate on the specifics of their conversation.

According to a KAN News report from Tuesday, the primary topic of discussion during that meeting was Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly attended the session, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior Israeli officials were not invited, likely due to confidentiality concerns. The combination of a secret meeting with a foreign leader and the simultaneous filing of impeachment articles places Hegseth at the center of a complex political and military narrative as the US heads into the post-election period.