Hegseth faces Nov. 9 removal vote

The House of Representatives is preparing to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with a procedural vote targeted for November 9, the day after the midterm election results are known. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that removing Hegseth would be a primary objective for Democrats if they secure a majority in the upcoming session.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who filed articles of impeachment in September, intends to force the vote when the House returns to session. Massie, a vocal critic of the conflict in Iran, accused Hegseth of abusing his office by authorizing hostilities against Iran without congressional approval. The timing of the vote is designed to capitalize on the political momentum following the election.

Democratic lawmakers have issued sharp criticisms of the defense secretary in recent months. Representative Pramila Jayapal described Hegseth as incompetent and corrupt during a CNN interview. Representative Jared Huffman labeled him an unhinged fanatic who should be removed from office. These statements align with the party's strategy to make Hegseth's removal a central issue for the new congressional majority.

The push for impeachment coincides with scrutiny over Hegseth's recent international activities. The defense secretary held a covert meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Ovda air base on Monday. This meeting took place just days before Israel's national election. Two sources confirmed the encounter to Walla on Tuesday, while Reuters reported that Hegseth acknowledged the visit but declined to provide details.

According to KAN News, the primary topic of discussion during the session was Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly attended the meeting. However, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials were excluded from the discussion for confidentiality reasons. The limited attendance highlights the sensitive nature of the strategic dialogue between the two nations.

The Wall Street Journal reported the details of the impeachment strategy on Friday. The plan relies on the House returning to session on November 9, allowing lawmakers to act on the articles of impeachment immediately after voters have cast their ballots. This schedule ensures that the legislative action occurs in the immediate aftermath of the midterm elections.