Hakeem Jeffries on immigration reform, tackling corruption and more

House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, on track to become majority leader, has declared his strong support for impeaching defense secretary Pete Hegseth, labeling him as a "hard yes" on the impeachment resolution. In an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Jeffries emphasized that Hegseth has abused his power, undermined national security, and orchestrated an unwise war in Iran, which has led to higher prices for American citizens and increased national insecurity. Jeffries stated, "Pete Hegseth has got to go."

Kentucky Republican representative Thomas Massie, an outgoing congressman and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, is set to reintroduce impeachment efforts against Hegseth as early as Monday. Massie's resolution, which includes eight articles accusing Hegseth of multiple offenses, including violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973, could ignite a House clash within days.

Jeffries anticipates strong Democratic support for the impeachment resolution, pending a conversation among caucus members on Tuesday as lawmakers return to Washington after the midterm elections. The mounting pressure against Hegseth stems from Republican electoral losses, with the Iran war cited as a significant factor in the party's defeat.

A former senior Pentagon official directly linked the defense department's role in the conflict to Hegseth's leadership. In response to the criticism, President Trump has remained steadfast in his support for Hegseth, dismissing the possibility of his replacement. Hegseth, for his part, dismissed the impeachment push as a politically motivated campaign against him, alleging it mirrors past attempts against Trump.