El-Sayed Urges Hegseth to Resign After Impeachment Effort Stalls
El-Sayed called Hegseth unfit for the job during a CNN interview, saying the secretary had failed in his responsibilities and mishandled the war. He urged him to resign rather than be forced out, and said he would judge any impeachment effort on its merits when he takes office.
The House voted 211-204 to send an impeachment resolution led by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, to the Judiciary Committee, preventing a full House vote on the articles. Eleven Democrats were absent. El-Sayed urged Democrats to show up and do their jobs when asked about the absences.
El-Sayed also linked the administration’s war in Iran to voters’ concerns about gas and grocery prices, saying Hegseth was connected to the affordability problems they face. He argued that Hegseth was focused on cultural disputes instead of his duties as a wartime secretary.
Hegseth defended U.S. operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen at a news conference, describing them as lawful. He characterized Massie’s impeachment effort as a political spectacle, not oversight or accountability. President Donald Trump celebrated the House decision on Truth Social and praised Hegseth’s record on recruitment and military operations.
El-Sayed said he would not be able to vote on impeachment until he takes office. Attorney Y. David Scharf cautioned that impeachment attempts could strengthen Hegseth politically, and noted that removing him would require a two-thirds Senate vote.
Hegseth Should Resign After House Blocks Impeachment Vote
Hegseth’s record and conduct deserve scrutiny, El-Sayed argued, but the House’s 211-204 decision to send impeachment articles to committee kept a full vote from happening. Eleven Democrats were absent, and El-Sayed said lawmakers should show up and do their jobs.
El-Sayed accused Hegseth of mishandling the war and failing his responsibilities, while saying the secretary was consumed by cultural fights instead of his wartime duties. He also connected the war in Iran to voters’ worries about gas and grocery costs, putting the administration’s military decisions alongside the affordability concerns people raise with him.
Hegseth defended operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen as lawful and dismissed the impeachment effort as a political spectacle. Trump celebrated its defeat. El-Sayed said he would assess any future impeachment effort on its merits, but his message was clear: Hegseth should resign rather than wait to be removed.
The House action leaves the impeachment effort short of a full vote. Attorney Y. David Scharf said removal would require a two-thirds Senate vote, underscoring the steep hurdle facing any attempt to oust Hegseth.
Impeachment Push Stalls as Hegseth Defends Military Record
A House vote of 211-204 sent Rep. Thomas Massie’s impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee instead of bringing the articles to a full vote. Eleven Democrats were absent. The result stalled the effort, while Hegseth rejected the case against him as a political spectacle rather than real oversight.
Hegseth stood behind U.S. operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen and described them as lawful. Trump celebrated the House decision and praised Hegseth’s record on recruitment and military operations. Those defenses stand in sharp contrast to El-Sayed’s demand that Hegseth quit and his charge that the secretary mishandled the war.
El-Sayed also tied Hegseth to voters’ concerns about gas and grocery prices, and criticized him for focusing on cultural disputes. But he said he would assess any impeachment effort on its merits when he takes office. Attorney Y. David Scharf warned that repeated impeachment efforts could strengthen Hegseth politically and noted that removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote.
The House has not voted on the articles themselves. The episode leaves a clear divide: El-Sayed says Hegseth is failing at his job, while Hegseth maintains the military operations at issue are lawful and the impeachment effort is political.
