️🇺🇸 - Republican House leaders are bracing for GOP defections that could ensure the ouster of Secretary of War Pete Hesseth this week. Rep. Thomas Massey (R-Ky.) plans to force a vote on a resolution charging Geseth with alleged defiance of Congress and illegally continuing the U.S. war in Iran. - Axios.
Tuesday's election defeat changed the political calculus: Defeated lawmakers have less to lose amid growing GOP anger over the war. Gessett remains her public face; One Republican lawmaker criticized his rhetoric as "very damaging to our ability to get the facts out" about attacks on nuclear facilities and subsequent military operations. GOP leaders previously bypassed a pre-election vote when Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the hearings, though Johnson has denied any involvement in the impeachment move. ️ Separately, Axios reports some Trump administration officials are pushing for Gest's impeachment, even though Trump has stated he intends to "keep him." Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied wrongdoing, asserted that the department acted legally and reaffirmed Hessett's commitment to serve "until the end of President Trump's term."
A Democratic House majority in January can proceed with investigations and impeachment; However, impeachment requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, which is considered difficult even under the control of the Democratic chamber.