Congresswoman Pettersen Statement on Vote to Impeach Pete Hegseth

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement regarding the House vote to consider impeachment articles against the incompetent weekend news host, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Pettersen previously introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth in April of this year. “Secretary Hegseth is a danger to our nation and should be removed from office immediately, which is why I helped introduce articles of impeachment against him and demanded the Secretary’s resignation in April 2026. “On November 10, 2026, the House of Representatives held a procedural vote on H.Res. 1655, Impeachment of Peter Hegseth, Secretary of Defense for high crimes and misdemeanors introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY). The procedural vote allowed House Republicans, who are in the majority until January 2027, to refer the articles of impeachment back to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively allowing Republican Leadership to indefinitely stall the articles and allow Hegseth’s misconduct to remain unchecked. “Alongside other members, I was unfortunately significantly delayed entering the Capitol due to a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus during the vote. Speaker Mike Johnson was notified and knew that we were outside of the Capitol dealing with the blockade, yet House Republicans chose to close the vote as we were attempting to enter the chamber. The reality is that even if all Democrats were present, we didn’t have enough votes to change the outcome. Only one Republican was willing to stand up to Pete Hegseth while the rest continued to shield him from accountability. But in January, with our new Democratic majority, Secretary Hegseth will be investigated for his unlawful actions and I will vote to impeach him. I have officially filed my vote to impeach Pete Hegseth with the Clerk which is reflected in the Congressional Record. “Since he has been confirmed, Secretary Hegseth has put our servicemembers at greater risk, weakened our national security, and damaged America’s standing on the world stage. He has repeatedly enabled and carried out President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran without a clear strategy or regard for the consequences. As a mom, my heart breaks for the families and children caught in the middle of every conflict Secretary Hegseth and the Trump Administration have escalated. I also grieve with the families of the servicemembers who have lost their lives in service to our country and stand with the military families who support our servicemembers through this tumultuous time. The safety of our troops and American civilians must always come first. “To hold Hegseth and Trump’s Department of Defense accountable, I have also cosponsored H.Con. Res. 38 and H.Con. Res. 40 - two War Powers resolutions that would ensure that Congress maintains the power to declare war, not the President or Secretary of Defense. I have also cosponsored H.J.Res. 126, a War Powers Resolution that would block future unauthorized military strikes following the illegal use of force in the Caribbean Sea. “I’m deeply sorry to the constituents that I have disappointed. Secretary Hegseth’s actions are reckless, violate our Constitution and international law, and have created a global crisis. He must be removed, and next year when we are in the majority, we will bring the justice our country deserves.” ###