U.S. House Republican moves to force vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth
asserted
Republican → move → Hegseth
Secretary of War says he is happy to litigate military actions of the administration 'all day long'
asserted
he → say → administration
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie moved Monday to force a vote to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, putting pressure on his fellow Republicans to decide whether to remove one of the Trump administration's most prominent figures following sweeping election losses.
asserted
Massie → move → losses
The impeachment resolution largely focuses on the war in Iran.
asserted
resolution → focus → Iran
It also includes references to Hegseth's role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.
asserted
It → include → Yemen
Hegseth said earlier Monday he's eager to litigate the military actions that he and U.S. President Donald Trump have taken against Iran, Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela's previous leaders.
"If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you're taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic," Hegseth told reporters Monday, using the military code names for the Iran war and campaign of strikes to halt the Houthis' attacks on shipping in the Middle East.
asserted
Hegseth → say → East
Hegseth also announced that he would hold a rare news conference on Tuesday — his first in more than 180 days — on the impeachment threat.
asserted
he → announce → threat
His last briefing was in May, and he has not held one on the Iran war, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats or other U.S. military actions since then.
uncertain
he → hold → boats
The Pentagon chief is bearing the brunt of anger and calls for his ouster after the Iran war and its economic impact contributed to severe Republican losses in the midterm elections that cost the party control of Congress.
asserted
that → bear → Congress
Massie pushed forward an impeachment resolution over the objections of House Republican leadership as momentum grows to hold Hegseth accountable for the conflict.
asserted
Hegseth → push → conflict
Hegseth gave a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Sept. 30, but has not held a media availablity since May.
uncertain
Hegseth → give → May
Hegseth waves off impeachment push as 'noise'
Hegseth, after giving a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, brushed aside the possible impeachment push.
"There's a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success," he told reporters.
uncertain
he → wave → reporters
He added that "if we want to litigate" the military actions that the Trump administration has taken, "I'm happy to do it all day long.
asserted
I → add → it
"My team, we're not worried about the noise — it's what I told the troops, too — don't worry about the noise," he said.
asserted
he → tell → noise
Asked about U.S. Vice-President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the massive Republican losses in the election, Hegseth noted that Trump said he would do it again, and "I agree."
asserted
I → ask → it
He largely repeated a line that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to reporters a day earlier: "It doesn't have to be necessarily popular, but it can be necessary."
asserted
it → repeat → reporters
Hegseth argued that the war was necessary because "someone had to confront the Iranian regime's pursuit of a nuclear weapon" and said "the choice was don't act and wish it away or take a bold move."
asserted
choice → argue → move
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful.
asserted
program → maintain → ?
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium that is enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.
uncertain
that → accord → cent
Trump defended Hegseth to reporters on Sunday night.
asserted
Trump → defend → night
"He's guilty of two things, basically winning two wars," Trump said.
asserted
Trump → win → wars
"I believe we saved the Middle East and Israel combined.
asserted
we → believe → East
And it's awfully hard to say let's impeach somebody who did that."
asserted
who → say → that
Hegseth insists 'Iran is devastated'
asserted
Iran → insist → ?
Hegseth reiterated that "Iran is devastated," even though the Islamic Republic has been able to keep striking military bases in the Middle East that are used by the United States, causing billions of dollars in damage, as well as commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
that → reiterate → Hormuz
Disruptions to shipping in the waterway, where one-fifth of the world's oil passed before the war, have led to higher energy prices that hit voters' pocketbooks.
asserted
that → pass → pocketbooks
He said the next steps on the war are up to Trump, including telling Iran: "Hey, we're done, and we're going to watch your nuclear material.
asserted
we → say → material
You better not move it."
asserted
You → move → it
With anger in Congress rising, Hegseth has been on a social media blitz, posting a video last week acknowledging the threat of impeachment.
asserted
Hegseth → rise → impeachment
He said it would be "all about the politics of personal destruction" and insisted that "won't work with me.
asserted
that → say → me
You can rest assured of that."
asserted
You → rest → that
Since then, scores of political appointees within the Pentagon have posted images of Hegseth emblazoned with the words, "Stand.
asserted
scores → post → words
The White House also posted a video to social media that featured praise from Trump.
asserted
that → post → Trump
The Aporia
