Why Pete Hegseth could fall through "thin ice"
It's a de facto motto in the Trump White House: "Somebody's gotta take the fall." Lately, that person looks like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Why it matters: From the unpopular war in Iran to his bad bipartisan relations with members of Congress, Hegseth's record has made him the most vulnerable member of Trump's Cabinet after Tuesday night's midterm shellacking. "Hegseth is definitely on…
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, is facing potential impeachment and removal from his position following the recent midterm elections where the Republicans suffered a significant defeat. The impeachment is being pursued by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) who has criticized the U.S. involvement in the Iran war. Trump has been hesitant to let Hegseth go, but four factors are weighing on him: the impeachment threat, the need for a scalp, the lame-duck window, and a potential soft landing for Hegseth.
If the House passes the impeachment measure, it is likely to be stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate, leaving Trump with a limited window to replace Hegseth before the new Congress takes office. Secretary Hegseth has maintained that he is fully compliant with all ethics laws and regulations despite leaked reports of his wife's ties to a consulting firm with Defense Department connections.
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