- Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced impeachment articles accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of murder, conspiracy to murder, and mishandling classified information.
- Accusations center on controversial strikes killing survivors of a suspected drug-smuggling boat and demands for footage and orders amid war crimes claims.
- Hegseth also faced criticism for sharing troop movement details via Signal, with GOP control making impeachment advancement unlikely.
In a bold escalation of tensions on Capitol Hill, Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar of Michigan has introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The move, announced on Tuesday, targets Hegseth’s handling of recent military operations and a high-profile incident involving sensitive information.
Thanedar made the announcement in a video posted to social media, describing the articles as “for murder and conspiracy to murder and reckless and unlawful mishandling of classified information.”
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He elaborated that Hegseth’s actions “are not just reprehensible but illegal as well.”
In a post on X, Thanedar wrote: “I love America and will do everything I can to protect our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That’s why, today, I introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.”
This isn’t Thanedar’s first foray into impeachment efforts—he previously introduced articles against President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The Controversies Fueling the Impeachment Push
At the heart of the accusations are two major issues that have dogged Hegseth since taking office.
First, there’s the scrutiny over U.S. military strikes on alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
On September 2, American forces conducted an initial strike against a boat off the Venezuelan coast suspected of narco-trafficking.
A follow-up strike then targeted survivors of the first attack, killing them and sparking outrage.
Critics, including some lawmakers, have raised concerns that the second strike violated the laws of war by targeting individuals who no longer posed an imminent threat.
Demands have grown for the release of unedited footage and specific orders related to these operations, with accusations pointing toward potential war crimes.
The Trump administration has staunchly defended the actions, insisting they were necessary.
Second is the lingering fallout from “Signal Gate.”
Back in March, Hegseth shared real-time details about American troops’ movements ahead of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen via a group chat on the Signal app.
Notably, the chat included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief.
A Pentagon watchdog report released last week concluded that this sharing risked endangering U.S. troops.
Reactions from Both Sides
The Pentagon pushed back hard. Spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told Axios:
“While Shri tries to win points with his base to fend off his political opponents, Secretary Hegseth will continue to protect the homeland.
This is just another charade in an attempt to distract the American people from the major successes we have had here at the Department of War.
“On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was blunt about the prospects during a recent press conference:
“Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives, and we know that’s the case…Donald Trump will order them not to do it.”
This impeachment effort comes amid a separate push by another Michigan Democrat, Representative Haley Stevens, who introduced articles against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Stevens posted on X:
“Today, I formally introduced articles of impeachment against Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. RFK Jr. has turned his back on science and the safety of the American people. Michiganders cannot take another day of his chaos.”
Why This Matters—and What’s Next
With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate, experts and insiders agree that neither impeachment initiative stands much chance of advancing.
The GOP-controlled Congress is seen as a firewall against such Democratic-led efforts in the current political climate.
Still, the moves highlight deepening partisan divides over national security decisions in the Trump administration, from military engagements to information security protocols.
Also Read: Officials Blow Whistle on Illegal Orders Given by the President
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