House Democrats Plan Hegseth Impeachment Push If Midterms Deliver Majority

House Democrats are preparing to move against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should control of the chamber shift their way in next month's midterm elections, according to the Wall Street Journal. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a crowd in Pennsylvania earlier this month that assuming a majority, lawmakers would target the Pentagon chief. "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town," Jeffries said, as reported by the Journal. Rep. Pramila Jayapal called the defense secretary "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" in a CNN appearance, while Rep. Jared Huffman labeled him an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office."

The effort has a Republican dimension too. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has opposed both the war in Iran and American aid to Israel, filed impeachment articles against Hegseth in September. Massie contends Hegseth abused his office by carrying out an order for hostilities against Iran without Congress signing off on the action. The congressman from Kentucky has said he plans to press for a vote shortly after the House comes back into session on Nov. 9.

The political maneuvering follows a discreet meeting overseas. Hegseth sat down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base on Monday, a few days ahead of Israel's own election, two sources confirmed to Walla on Tuesday. Reuters reported that Hegseth acknowledged the visit but declined to describe what he and Netanyahu discussed. A KAN News report on Tuesday said Iran was the main subject of their conversation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was present. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior Israeli officials were left off the invitation list for confidentiality reasons, that report said.

Democrats hold 214 seats in the House to Republicans' 215, with one vacancy, according to ballotpedia. To impeach, a simple majority is required, after which the Senate conducts a trial. Massie's stated aim is a vote in the week after the elections, while Jeffries has framed any action around Democrats first securing the majority. The midterm elections are set for Nov. 3, with the House returning to Washington on Nov. 9.