WASHINGTON — House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday he is a “hard yes” on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and he ruled out working with Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s incoming chief of staff.
Jeffries made both points on ABC’s “This Week,” in an interview whose transcript was released by his office.
On Hegseth, host Jonathan Karl told Jeffries that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., intends to introduce a resolution of impeachment as soon as tomorrow. Jeffries did not hesitate.
“I’m a hard Yes on the Hegseth resolution. The so-called Secretary of Defense has abused his power, undermined our national security and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe. Pete Hegseth has got to go.”
Asked whether other Democrats would join him, Jeffries said the caucus will take it up on Tuesday morning, when members reconvene in Washington for the first time since the election. “I believe there will be incredibly strong support for that resolution,” he said.
Massie’s resolution carries eight articles. The first charges Hegseth with waging war in Iran in contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, according to the resolution text Massie introduced in the House.
Hegseth has rejected the push. In a video on Thursday, he called the effort “sham articles of impeachment” and vowed not to back down, the Washington Sun reported.
A Hard No on Miller
Miller starts as chief of staff on Monday, Nov. 9, replacing Susie Wiles. Jeffries called the choice awful.
“Stephen Miller is the architect of Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine,” Jeffries said. He added, “There’s not going to be any opportunity, certainly, to work with Stephen Miller and what he represents.”
Karl noted that Jeffries had spoken at times with Wiles in her role as chief of staff, and asked whether that kind of contact could continue with Miller. “It’s not going to happen with this new Chief of Staff,” Jeffries said.
Democrats won majorities in both the House and the Senate in Tuesday’s midterms, and Jeffries is expected to become speaker when the new Congress takes over in January. He said Democrats now have a “firewall” in both chambers against the Trump administration.
For now, the next steps are Massie’s. He is expected to bring the resolution back as early as Monday, and Jeffries and his caucus will talk it over on Tuesday.
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