US Defense Secretary Hegseth, who is facing the impeachment process: 'I would do it again'

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a name that came to the fore after the US midterm elections, made statements regarding the impeachment process initiated against him and the military operations carried out.

The pressure on Hegseth increased after the Republican Party blamed its heavy defeat in the midterm elections on the Iran war. Hegseth stated that discussions about his dismissal were purely a "political disagreement" and that he did not commit the type of crimes required for dismissal.

'I STAND STRONG BEHIND ALL OPERATIONS'

Targeting Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who initiated the process for his impeachment, Hegseth defended himself by citing other defense ministers who carried out military operations without an official declaration of war from Congress but did not face the impeachment process, and said, "It didn't happen in Lebanon during the Reagan era. It didn't happen in Kosovo during the Clinton era. It didn't happen in Iraq and Syria during the Obama era. It didn't happen in Iraq and Syria during the Biden era."

Speaking in the Pentagon's press room for the first time in months, Hegseth described the impeachment attempt in Congress as a "political show" and said that he stood behind all operations. Hegseth said, "They are dismissing me for political show. I stand firmly behind all operations."

'TRUMP GAVE THE ORDER'

While Hegseth described the detention of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and bringing him to the United States as a "great victory", he stated that the attacks on Iran, Yemen and Maduro operations were "legal duties" and emphasized that President Donald Trump gave the order. Hegseth said, "I would do it again."

Responding to efforts to remove him from office after the Republican Party's loss in the US midterm elections on November 3, Hegseth said, "That's what it's all about: political disagreement. These are neither high crimes nor misdemeanors, nor treason nor bribery... In other words, they are not the kinds of crimes the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the 'impeachment' clause. The way to resolve policy disagreements is to pass legislation, debate and the next presidential election." made his assessment.

SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM TRUMP

After Hegseth's press conference, Trump posted on his social media account and stated that the Defense Minister's "defense" against Thomas Massie was very good.