WASHINGTON
US Rep. Shri Thanedar said Friday that he formally introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth this week.
“This week, I introduced articles to impeach Secretary Pete Hegseth for murder and conspiracy to murder and reckless and unlawful mishandling of classified information,” Thanedar said on the House floor.
According to the articles, Hegseth allegedly ordered lethal strikes against individuals on a small boat “with no evidence of wrongdoing,” and then approved a second strike that killed survivors.
“His actions are not just reprehensible, but illegal as well. He also put lives of our own troops in danger by leaking classified war plans in an unauthorized signal chat,” said Thanedar, who represents Michigan’s 13th district.
The lawmaker cited former military attorneys who asserted that Hegseth’s actions “have risen to the level of war crimes.”
“Mr. Hegseth must resign from his position or be impeached by this House,” Thanedar said.
The Pentagon chief has faced scrutiny following a report that he ordered a follow-up strike on a suspected drug vessel operating off the coast of Venezuela on Sept. 2 after an initial attack left two survivors. Hegseth has said Navy Adm. Frank Bradley, who commanded the operation, authorized the so-called “double-tap” strike.
This was the first of 22 attacks that the Pentagon has carried out in recent months on alleged drug boats, killing more than 85 people.
While the administration maintains that the second strike was lawful and necessary, members of Congress and legal experts have raised doubts, with some Democrats warning that targeting survivors who posed no threat could amount to a war crime.
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