Defense Secretary Hegseth vows to fight impeachment as Rep. Massie plans to refile charges
Trump says he has "every intention" of keeping the defense secretary, but House Oversight Chairman James Comer says there are "a lot of questions" about him.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a new push to him after Tuesday's elections, in which Democrats won control of for next year. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his May primary, says he will introduce articles of impeachment on Monday or Tuesday, when returns. He filed eight charges in September, but Mike Johnson blocked a forced vote by sending members home early.
Massie says the new version will be substantially the same, and he warns the vote could instead be a motion to table or refer it, which would effectively kill it. In a recorded video on Thursday, Hegseth called the articles "sham" and "political theater" and said, "We will not back down." Trump has said he has "every intention" of keeping Hegseth.
On NewsNation, House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said the decision is Trump's but there are "a lot of questions" about Hegseth and the Iran strategy. He did not explicitly say how he would vote. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, says he thinks enough Republicans want Hegseth gone.
- eight charges in Massie's September impeachment filing, which he says the new version will largely repeat — The Daily Signal
- roughly 20 legislative days left in office for Massie, as the Daily Signal reports — The Daily Signal
- at least $350 billion "generational investment" in military funding Hegseth called for — Deseret News
Three sides of the story
Liberal0 outlets
Outlets on the left gave the story little coverage.
Center2 outlets
Hegseth's defiance and Democrats' plans for oversight
Deseret News leads with Hegseth "responding defiantly" to calls for his job after the midterms. It quotes his recorded video at length, including his description of the impeachment articles as "sham" and his line "we have only just begun to fight." It then turns to Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, who says, "I think there are enough Republicans who want him gone."
Smith also lists oversight topics for a Democratic House, among them the "illegal war against Iran." The piece reports Trump's "every intention" of keeping Hegseth. It also carries Rep. James Comer's view that the president must decide, and his remark that there are "a lot of questions" about Hegseth.
The Journal reports that Hegseth is "digging in his heels" as a vote on his impeachment looms, and it reports concern in Congress that his defiance could imperil military funding.
Conservative3 outlets
Comer's doubts and Massie's impeachment push
Washington Examiner and Just the News lead with Comer. The Examiner says he "declined to back" Hegseth, and Just the News says he "admits"
Republicans have "a lot of questions." Both note he left the decision to Trump. The Examiner ties the story to Republican losses it attributes to prices from the Iran war, mentions Comer's possible run for governor, and cites Trump's 60 Minutes show of confidence.
Just the News adds Hegseth's "political theater" answer. The Daily Signal leads with Massie, who says he "believe[s] support for impeachment has grown." It quotes Vance writing "The reason we lost is the war" and lays out Massie's warning that a motion to table could kill the effort.
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 6 articles from 5 outlets
Center (2)
- Deseret News: Pete Hegseth remains defiant amid brewing impeachment and vows by Democrats to boost Pentagon oversight
- The Wall Street Journal (news): With a vote on his impeachment looming next week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is digging in his heels
Conservative (4)
- Just the News: Comer admits Republicans have 'a lot of questions' about Hegseth ahead of possible impeachment
- Just the News: Comer admits Republicans have 'a lot of questions' about Hegseth ahead of possible impeachment
- The Daily Signal: The Plan to Impeach Hegseth: Massie Says Support Has Grown
- Washington Examiner: House GOP Oversight chairman says ‘there’s a lot of questions about Hegseth’
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