Pete Hegseth declared himself safe from impeachment. Then came eight charges

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told transgender Americans they were unfit to serve their country. He described his own leadership in considerably more generous terms: strength restored, weakness banished, a military rebuilt. Anyone seeking his removal, he assured viewers, would fail.

On Monday, a Republican congressman moved to test that assurance.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky reintroduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, setting up House action within two legislative days over allegations that include unauthorized warfare, unlawful killings and retaliation against a political critic.

Even if Hegseth survives that effort, another confrontation awaits in January. Rep. Robert Garcia, the California Democrat poised to lead the House Oversight Committee, told The Advocate that the administration’s treatment of transgender people, including the military ban, would draw scrutiny.

Hegseth’s declaration of success could become part of the record lawmakers examine.

Related: Testosterone-obsessed Pete Hegseth has a bank account that jumped from under $50,000 to over $1 million

A declaration of strength

In his roughly six-minute video posted Thursday, Hegseth moved between assertions of military accomplishment and domestic political grievances. He attacked diversity initiatives, dismissed climate change as a military concern and defended religion’s place within the armed forces.

“We ended the weird and the woke and elevated patriots and strength,” he said.

His description of the military’s restored purpose explicitly excluded transgender people.

“Being trans is a mental illness incompatible with military service,” Hegseth said.

The American Psychiatric Association explains that being transgender is not a psychiatric diagnosis.

His treatment of lethal force was similarly categorical.

“Narco terrorists should die, not be caught and released,” he said.

Massie’s resolution alleges that Hegseth replaced maritime law enforcement with unauthorized lethal attacks on suspected drug traffickers. It also accuses him of ignoring laws intended to minimize civilian casualties and retaliating against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over speech questioning unlawful military orders.

Related: These 15 MAGA women learned that while Donald Trump demands unwavering loyalty, he gives none

Congress’s money, Congress’s authority

Three articles concern alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution involving Iran, including initiating unauthorized hostilities, continuing operations despite congressional direction to withdraw, and exceeding statutory deadlines. Other charges address military operations in Yemen and the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

In Thursday’s video, Hegseth described the war as “a courageous and historic effort that will ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”

He then asked Congress for a reconciliation bill providing at least $350 billion.

“We need every vote from every patriotic member of Congress,” Hegseth said.

Massie initially pursued impeachment in September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson’s early recess prevented a vote before the midterms. Monday’s action revived the effort.

Hegseth had already dismissed its author.

“A disgruntled, defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice,” he said.

Massie lost his primary to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, for whom Hegseth campaigned.

Related: Trump administration tells federal judge to ignore Pete Hegseth’s anti-trans posts

Robert Garcia prepares for January

The next Congress could scrutinize the policies Hegseth celebrates as well as the military operations Massie challenges.

Garcia will become the most powerful out gay man in Congress when he takes the Oversight Committee’s gavel, placing him at the center of investigations into the Trump administration.

Speaking Saturday at Crooked Con in Washington, D.C., on a panel titled “Lawyer Up,” before his interview with The Advocate, Garcia described months of preparation with his oversight team.

“Day one we have to be ready,” he said. “This is no joke.”

Garcia outlined priorities including alleged Trump family corruption, immigration enforcement, the Epstein investigation, and corporate misconduct. He also mentioned Pentagon contracts.

“We can’t just move forward without justice,” he said.

Garcia also made clear that leaving office would not put administration officials beyond his committee’s interest.

“I think it’s like, maybe it’s because I’m gay, but pettiness is a thing,” Garcia said.

His larger point was about the precedent Congress would set by letting misconduct pass without consequences. Future generations, he argued, needed to understand that the abuses of this period were wrong.

“To just move on does a disservice to the future of our country,” he said.

Asked about officials resisting subpoenas, Garcia said Democrats could pursue enforcement through the courts rather than depend exclusively on criminal contempt referrals to the administration’s Justice Department.

“We have to use every power that we have, including the power of organizing, the power of public opinion,” he said.

Afterward, The Advocate asked whether his oversight plans would include the transgender military ban.

“All these things that have happened to trans people, those need to be rolled back,” Garcia said. “I mean, it is cruel and inhumane. So we’re definitely going to look at that.”

He rejected the political demonization of transgender Americans.

“Stop demonizing trans people. Trans people just want to live. They want human rights like everybody else,” he said. “Why are we being such assholes and bullies to take on this population that has had nothing but so much hardship put on them by so many people? That just boils my blood.”

An uncertain vote

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supports the impeachment effort, but passage would require Republican defections. Senate conviction and removal would require a two-thirds vote.

“Didn’t work against President Trump and it won’t work with me,” Hegseth said Thursday. “You can rest assured of that.”

Trump was, however, impeached twice. The Senate acquitted him both times.