Hegseth rejects impeachment effort and defends US military operations

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected efforts to impeach him over eight articles concerning American military operations. In a statement dated November 10, the White House says Hegseth argued that all the operations in question were lawful, ordered by President Donald Trump and properly reported to Congress.

According to the White House statement, Hegseth identified operations involving Iran, drug cartels, Nicolás Maduro and Yemen. He described the impeachment effort as a political dispute over the administration's decisions rather than a response to unlawful conduct.

Hegseth said he stands behind every one of the operations and would carry them out again. He also rejected allegations that American service members could face war-crimes accusations over strikes against boats linked to narcoterrorism.

President Donald Trump publicly supported Hegseth, praising his response to the impeachment effort. Vice President JD Vance also dismissed the case for impeachment, arguing that political disagreements should be addressed through legislation rather than impeachment proceedings.

These statements should be understood as the US administration's account of the dispute. The White House presents Hegseth's defence and his claims about the legality of the operations, but the statement provides no independent evidence verifying those claims. It also does not report the outcome of the impeachment proceedings.