El-Sayed calls on Hegseth to resign over Iran war after impeachment bid blocked
US Senator-elect Abdulrahman El-Sayed has called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign, accusing him of mishandling the war against Iran and failing to fulfil his responsibilities, following a House vote that blocked an immediate impeachment attempt.
Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, the Michigan Democrat directly addressed Hegseth, questioning why he remained in office and urging him to step down.
"Why are you still doing this job? You are really bad at this. You are failing your responsibility. You have mishandled this war," El-Sayed said.
He added that Hegseth should resign rather than wait to be removed from office, arguing that his leadership of the Pentagon had become increasingly controversial.
El-Sayed also criticised 11 Democratic lawmakers who were absent from the House vote, saying they should have attended and fulfilled their responsibilities.
Iran war fuels economic concerns
The senator-elect linked the military conflict to rising living costs in the United States, arguing that the war was contributing to financial pressures on American households.
"Everywhere I went in Michigan, the big questions were: Why does it cost me $80 to fill my truck? And why can't I afford a second pound of ground beef at the grocery store?" he said.
He described the war as unnecessary and called for an end to hostilities, characterising the military campaign as "illegal, immoral and unethical."
El-Sayed said he would assess any future impeachment proceedings on their individual merits but maintained that Hegseth was failing in his duties as defense secretary.
House blocks impeachment effort in 211-204 vote
Earlier Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 211-204 to refer an impeachment resolution against Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively blocking a planned immediate vote on formal impeachment charges.
The resolution was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and contained eight articles accusing Hegseth of abusing his powers and conducting military operations without congressional authorisation.
Several allegations concerned the eight-month war against Iran, including claims that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution by continuing military operations without proper congressional approval.
Other articles addressed US military strikes against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in 2025, attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and alleged efforts to punish Democratic Senator Mark Kelly over a video encouraging military personnel and intelligence officials to refuse unlawful orders.
Massie was the only Republican to oppose the procedural motion to refer the resolution to the committee. Eleven Democrats were also absent from the vote.
The referral was not a direct vote on whether Hegseth should be impeached, and the allegations remain unproven.
Hegseth rejects accusations and receives Trump's backing
Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort during a Pentagon news conference on Tuesday, describing it as a political stunt.
"It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it," he said, rejecting the allegations and defending the administration's military operations involving Iran, Yemen and Venezuela.
"I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow," he added.
President Donald Trump welcomed the House decision, describing the outcome on Truth Social as an "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot."
Vice President JD Vance also defended the defense secretary, arguing that Hegseth had not committed impeachable offences.
Democrats prepare for renewed scrutiny in January
The House vote provides Hegseth with a temporary reprieve, but the political dispute is expected to continue after Democrats assume control of both chambers of Congress in January 2027.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated that his party intends to pursue greater scrutiny of the defense secretary and the administration's handling of the Iran war.
Democrats will also gain control of congressional committees, giving them greater authority to investigate military operations and examine the administration's decisions.
The broader dispute includes previous congressional efforts to limit presidential authority over military action against Iran. Although both chambers previously supported a war powers resolution directing the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities, the administration challenged its applicability.
The latest developments have also intensified questions about whether congressional pressure could influence the course of the conflict.
While impeachment proceedings do not directly determine military policy, the prospect of renewed investigations, congressional hearings and funding disputes could increase pressure on the administration.
For now, Hegseth retains Trump's support, while Democrats are preparing for a potentially wider confrontation over the Pentagon's leadership and the future of US military involvement in Iran.
Source:AA
