Jeffries Endorses Hegseth Impeachment as Democrats Prepare Probes

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries formally endorsed impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday. He stated he supports a resolution that is expected to be introduced soon and predicted it will receive substantial support in the chamber.

Jeffries, who is positioned to become the next House speaker when the new Congress convenes on January 3, accused Hegseth of misusing his authority. He claimed the secretary damaged national security and orchestrated an unnecessary and expensive war in Iran. The impeachment effort was originally led by outgoing Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie.

The endorsement follows the November 3 midterm elections, where Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate. The party recorded some of its largest House gains in more than 50 years. Republicans currently hold the presidency and maintain a conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court that includes three Trump appointees.

Jeffries said the first 100 days of the new Congress will focus on affordability and alleged corruption. He indicated that scrutiny will extend to Congress, the Supreme Court, and the executive branch. Democrats will select their specific congressional leaders in the near future.

Representative Robert Garcia, who requested the chairmanship of the House Oversight Committee in a letter to colleagues on Thursday, outlined potential investigations on CNN. He identified Stephen Miller, who was appointed White House chief of staff last week, as a key figure for review. Garcia linked Miller to immigration measures that separated families and alleged due process violations.

Garcia also expressed interest in questioning Elon Musk regarding his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. The federal initiative implemented widespread workforce reductions and sought access to sensitive data, including personal information about Americans. Garcia described the resulting job losses and potential data compromises as serious concerns.

Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House, while conviction and removal require support from two-thirds of the Senate. Attorney General Todd Blanche responded to the plans by raising the possibility of investigations into Democratic lawmakers over their rhetoric. He stated he was prepared to defend administration officials. President Trump also urged the Justice Department on Truth Social to investigate Democrats over their plans to bring his allies before congressional committees.