El-Sayed tells Hegseth to resign after impeachment effort fails, 'make it easy for everybody'
Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed, D-Mich., demanded Secretary of War Pete Hegseth resign during a CNN interview on Tuesday, questioning his competence amid a failed impeachment effort.
Speaking with CNN's Kaitlan Collins, El-Sayed directly addressed Hegseth, asking "Why are you still doing this job?" He criticized the Secretary of War's performance, saying You are really bad at this. You are failing your responsibility, you have mishandled this war, and nobody really actually understands what it is you're about.
So, just resign. Make it easy for everybody instead of, in the end, getting taken out because that is clearly what's happening. So, Pete, just take it from me — like you're not good at this.
Impeachment Vote Outcome
House Republicans killed the impeachment effort led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., on Tuesday by voting 211-204 to refer the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, avoiding a full vote. All Democrats who voted opposed the motion, but 11 Democrats were absent.
President Donald Trump celebrated the failed impeachment effort in a Truth Social post, calling Massie a "total loser" and praising Hegseth's record on recruitment and military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
Democratic Absences
When asked about the 11 Democrats who didn't show up to vote, El-Sayed told Democrats to "do your job." He noted that voters were concerned about high gas and grocery prices, which he attributed to the war in Iran.
"Pete Hegseth has aided and abetted a president who we all know is way out of his league," El-Sayed said. "And so, you know, I think it is important for us to be recognizing that Pete Hegseth himself is the tie to the affordability that all of us crave when it comes to this administration."
Hegseth's Defense
Hegseth remained defiant during a news conference Tuesday, pushing back against the impeachment effort. He said he stood behind military operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, describing them as lawful.
What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment.
Y. David Scharf, a government strategies and controversies attorney, told Fox News Digital that Democrats could spend the next two years trying to impeach Hegseth and end up making him stronger. He noted that removing Hegseth would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate, questioning Democrats' ability to convince Republicans to join them.
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