GOP’s French Hill leaves Hegseth impeachment support undecided

Hill avoids taking a position

Hill was asked Sunday whether he would support impeaching Hegseth, but did not commit to a position. Lawmakers are due back on Capitol Hill this week after the midterm elections.

Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who is leaving Congress, introduced impeachment articles before lawmakers departed for the campaign trail. He said this week that he intends to press for a vote.

Job performance and impeachment

Hill said dissatisfaction with Hegseth’s work would not, on its own, establish that the defense secretary had committed an impeachable offense. The Constitution identifies “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” as the basis for impeachment. Hill framed the issue as two separate questions: how the Pentagon is being led and whether Hegseth’s conduct warrants impeachment.

Iran remains a central concern

Hill also said Americans do not want Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, describing that as a U.S. goal for five decades. The war in Iran was among the concerns cited by voters in the midterm elections. Republicans suffered major losses in those elections, with voters also raising concerns about the war’s effects on the cost of living.