Jeffries Is a ‘Hard Yes’ on Impeaching Hegseth and Says Democrats Won’t Work With Stephen Miller
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday he is a “hard yes” on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and that Democrats will not work with incoming White House chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Jeffries made the comments on ABC’s “This Week,” according to a transcript posted by his office. “I’m a hard Yes on the Hegseth resolution,” he said. “Pete Hegseth has got to go.”
He accused Hegseth of abusing his power and engineering what he called a “reckless and costly war of choice in Iran.” Jeffries said Democrats will discuss the resolution when they reconvene Tuesday morning but expects “incredibly strong support.”
NBC News reported that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is expected to file the resolution early this week, with a vote to follow. Massie filed a similar measure in September, but Republican leaders canceled planned votes and the House left early.
NBC also reported that Trump has told allies he was considering replacing Hegseth, though Trump has publicly said Hegseth is “doing a very good job.” Hegseth has called Massie a “disgruntled, defeated congressman.”
On Miller, whom Trump named chief of staff after Susie Wiles stepped down, Jeffries called the pick “an awful choice.” He called Miller “the architect of Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine,” according to the transcript.
“There’s not going to be any opportunity, certainly, to work with Stephen Miller and what he represents,” Jeffries said, adding that this would hold “to the extent that he lasts.” He said Democrats now have “a firewall in the House and a firewall in the Senate.”
Asked about incoming Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Robert Garcia’s “Lawyer up” warning, Jeffries said “there’s a cost to corruption.” He said Democrats would “follow the facts, apply the law” and “let the chips fall where they may.”
Jeffries did not say whether Miller would be called to testify, deferring to Garcia and Rep. Jamie Raskin on how investigations proceed. He said he strongly supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks.
On policy, Jeffries said Democrats want to end the Iran war, stop Trump’s tariffs, reverse Medicaid and SNAP cuts, and extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. He said Democrats would move “aggressively during the first 100 days” of the new Congress.
Pressed by host Jonathan Karl on areas where Trump might sign bills, such as a 10% credit card interest cap or prescription drug pricing, Jeffries said Democrats “certainly need to provide credit card relief” and lower health care costs.
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