Rubio Defends Hegseth as House Impeachment Push Builds
Rubio said he believed Hegseth had done a good job and praised his work ethic, intelligence and professionalism. He said he had worked with Hegseth daily on several issues and had seen aspects of his work that members of Congress and the media might not see.
Asked about Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s call to impeach Hegseth, Rubio said the criticism was unfair and suggested the attacks were political. Massie, who lost his primary and is due to leave Congress in January, accused Hegseth of knowingly carrying out unlawful orders to begin a war against a foreign country.
The impeachment effort has also drawn support from incoming Democrats. Its allegations focus on Hegseth’s implementation of orders, raising questions about the role of President Donald Trump, who would have issued them, as well as Hegseth’s actions.
Rubio said Hegseth and the War Department had helped deliver on administration priorities in Iran and elsewhere. Hegseth announced he would hold a press conference at the Pentagon on November 10, his first since May 5, and had dismissed impeachment concerns while defending Trump’s handling of the Iran war.
Rubio’s Defense of Hegseth Meets Impeachment Questions Over War Orders
As lawmakers move to hold War Secretary Pete Hegseth accountable for allegedly carrying out unlawful orders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a strong defense of his colleague on November 9. Rubio praised Hegseth’s intelligence, work ethic and professionalism, saying their daily work together convinced him Hegseth had done a good job.
But Rubio’s confidence does not resolve the central question raised by the impeachment effort: whether Hegseth knowingly implemented unlawful orders to start a war against a foreign country. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has made that accusation, and incoming Democrats are also targeting Hegseth for impeachment.
Massie is due to leave Congress in January after losing his primary. His impending departure does not change the stakes of the allegations, which concern both Hegseth’s conduct and the orders he carried out under President Donald Trump. Rubio called the criticism unfair and characterized the attacks as political, but offered praise rather than an answer to the specific charge.
Hegseth has defended Trump’s handling of the Iran war and dismissed impeachment concerns. He scheduled a Pentagon press conference for November 10, his first since May 5, as the House push gathers attention.
Rubio Stands Behind Hegseth as Impeachment Push Targets Trump’s War Policy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made clear on November 9 that he stands behind War Secretary Pete Hegseth, praising his work, intelligence and professionalism as a House impeachment push advances. Rubio said he works with Hegseth every day and believes the secretary has done an excellent job.
The effort includes GOP lawmaker Thomas Massie, defeated in his primary, who is departing Congress in January, as well as incoming Democrats. Massie accuses Hegseth of knowingly carrying out unlawful orders to begin a war against a foreign country. Because the allegation concerns orders issued by President Donald Trump, the case against Hegseth also raises a broader question about the president’s actions.
Rubio called the attacks on Hegseth unfair and said politics was driving the opposition. Hegseth and the War Department, Rubio added, had helped deliver on administration priorities in Iran and around the world. Impeachment critics face a serious question of their own: how can they target the official who carried out an order without confronting the president who issued it?
Hegseth has defended Trump’s handling of the Iran war and dismissed concerns about impeachment. He is scheduled to speak at the Pentagon on November 10, his first press conference since May 5.
Reported by The Daily Wire, Hot Air.
