WASHINGTON — A government ethics watchdog group on Nov. 10 called on Congress to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, throwing its support behind a resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit that monitors conflicts of interest and files legal actions over government ethics, issued the statement after Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced the impeachment resolution.
“Congress must impeach Secretary Hegseth,” CREW President Donald K. Sherman said.
Sherman argued that removing Hegseth is necessary to protect the safety, security and well-being of Americans. He accused the defense secretary of disregarding the law and the public during his roughly two years in the post.
The group’s central complaint concerns the war in Iran. According to Sherman, Hegseth went around Congress and the Constitution to carry out what he called President Donald Trump’s war of choice there. CREW said the conflict has led to military and civilian casualties and has worsened an affordability crisis at home.
Sherman also argued that lawmakers do not need to wait for the new Congress elected in the Nov. 3 midterms to be sworn in before acting. He said “this Congress can and must remove Secretary Hegseth from office right now.”
Under the Constitution, the House may impeach a federal official by a simple majority vote, while removal from office requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate after a trial.
CREW’s statement did not say whether other members of Congress had signed on to Massie’s resolution or when the House might consider it.
This report is based on information from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Source: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
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