Sara Jacobs Backs Impeachment of Defense Secretary Hegseth

Jacobs, a California Democrat who represents part of San Diego, said in a social media post that Hegseth was “dangerous and needs to go.” She later told the House that members of her community had been sent to fight in Iran and that she took personally what she described as leaders’ disregard for servicemembers’ lives. She also accused the administration of asking troops to take illegal action in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen.

Jacobs said the strikes and the war had not made the United States more secure. She cited the bombing of an elementary school in Minab, Iran, and deaths in strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, calling Hegseth’s conduct reckless and illegal.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, said in a CNN interview that she would join Jacobs in supporting impeachment. Jayapal argued the Constitution gives Congress authority over war and accused Hegseth and the president of bypassing Congress and ignoring war powers resolutions. She also alleged that Hegseth had overseen unnecessary civilian casualties, dismantled an office tasked with monitoring civilian harm and conducted illegal boat strikes off Venezuela.

Rep.-elect Richard Ojeda, a retired Army major, also called the strikes and the bombing of a school war crimes in an interview with MeidasTouch. He said more than 160 girls were killed in the school bombing and argued that such deaths could not be dismissed.

If a majority votes to advance Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) articles, a full debate and final vote on impeaching Hegseth were expected to take place Wednesday.