US lawmakers move to impeach War Secretary Hegseth over Iran ‘war crimes’

A number of US lawmakers are set to file five articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over war crimes committed in Iran.

The impeachment resolution will be introduced by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), the first Iranian American Democrat in Congress, on Wednesday, accusing Hegseth of war crimes in connection with the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, abuse of power and mishandling of the Department of War, according to Axios.

Eight Democrats are co-sponsoring the resolution, including Reps. Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Nikema Williams (Ga.), Sarah McBride (Del.), Brittany Pettersen (Colo.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Dave Min (Calif.), and Shri Thanedar (Mich.).

Ansari announced last week that she was filing articles of impeachment, saying Hegseth was “complicit” in President Donald Trump’s “devastating, illegal war” against Iran.

The first article says Hegseth violated his oath of office in overseeing an “unauthorized war against Iran and reckless endangerment of United States service members.”

According to the resolution, the secretary is guilty of war crimes by targeting civilians and breaking the rules of armed conflict, citing the deadly US bombing of a girls’ elementary school in Iran’s Minab.

The articles also focused on the mishandling of sensitive information, referring to the use of the Signal app on his personal cell phone to discuss a pending strike on targets in Yemen.

Moreover, the resolution accuses Hegseth of obstructing Congress’s ability to oversee the military by withholding information regarding military actions in Venezuela and Iran, and other countries.

It also accuses the secretary of abusing his power, “including targeting and launching bogus investigations against specific elected officials for the express purpose of political retribution.”

The articles, however, are almost certain to go nowhere in the House controlled by the Republicans.

Trump’s war on Iran, which began on February 28, has further fueled Americans’ anger. According to a poll published last week, most Americans want Congress to impeach US President Donald Trump over his war on Iran and other controversial policies.

The costly and illegal war on Iran has already consumed tens of billions of dollars and raised concerns about the strain on US weapons stockpiles.

The war has also carried a considerable political cost for Trump. His approval rating dropped to 39 percent in early April, down from 42 percent in late February before the war began, with 53 percent disapproving, marking the lowest rating of his second term.

Inside Congress, Democrats supported impeachment by 84 percent to 8 percent, with 78 percent strongly backing removal. Republicans, however, opposed impeachment by 81 percent to 14 percent, with 77 percent of GOP foes strongly opposed. Independents swung toward impeachment, 55 percent to 34 percent.

In the House, lawmakers need only a simple majority to impeach Trump, but Democrats lack the majority.

Senate conviction requires a two-thirds vote in a chamber that remains firmly Republican. Currently, no votes for removal exist on either side of the chamber.

Iran has declared a “historic victory” following the war of aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime that lasted 40 days, announcing that Washington had been forced to accept an Iranian proposal.

On April 8, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire after Washington received the 10-point proposal from Tehran.

Israel's Maariv newspaper admitted that the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic has ended in a "decisive victory for Iran," with both the US and Israel conceding to a "strategic surrender" and retreating from the battlefield.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir