Hegseth Impeachment Push Gears Up Before November Vote

Washington political dynamics are shifting as US House Democrats prepare to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a move they intend to trigger only if they secure a majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

The strategy was first outlined in a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signaled this intent during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. He told supporters, "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town," according to the report.

The push for removal has gained momentum through vocal criticism from other Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Pramila Jayapal labeled Hegseth "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" during a CNN interview. Rep. Jared Huffman was more direct, describing the defense secretary as an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office." These public statements frame the legislative groundwork being laid for a potential vote.

Pressure on the defense secretary is not limited to the Democratic side. In September, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Massie, a known critic of the war in Iran and US aid to Israel, accused Hegseth of abusing his office by ordering hostilities against Iran without Congressional approval.

Massie has stated he will force an impeachment vote shortly after the House returns to session on November 9. That date falls the week after the midterm elections. A vote on that timeline would allow both parties to gauge their new congressional strength before proceeding with formal removal proceedings.

The impeachment discussions coincide with increased scrutiny of Hegseth's international activities. The defense secretary held a covert meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda air base on Monday. This meeting took place days before Israel's own election, according to two sources who confirmed the details to Walla on Tuesday.

Hegseth confirmed the visit occurred but declined to discuss the specifics of their conversation. KAN News reported on Tuesday that Iran was the primary topic of discussion. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly attended the meeting, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior officials were excluded for confidentiality reasons.