Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) issued a statement condemning the recent attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that occurred earlier this week, saying it "reeks of political opportunism."
The Context
Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday; most charges centered on the Iran War, but some referenced the removal of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro from power.
Rep. Massie further alleged that Hegseth "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders."
The move received backing from Democrats, but not enough to carry the impeachment forward, especially as all Republicans stood with Hegseth and voted against the measure the following Tuesday.
Hegseth fiercely criticized the articles, saying they were "policy disagreements, not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause."
Biggs's Comment
Rep. Biggs echoed the sentiment, saying in a press release, "Impeachment is a constitutional remedy reserved for the gravest of offenses—high crimes and misdemeanors."
"Much like the previous impeachment charades against President Trump, this effort to humiliate Secretary Hegseth reeks of political opportunism," Rep. Biggs continued. "Secretary Hegseth was afforded neither hearings nor due process. Instead, Democrats and others suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome rushed to pursue impeachment in hopes of scoring a cheap political victory."
The Arizona congressman further expressed satisfaction that "this political distraction was, at least temporarily, slowed."
Because of this, Biggs called for "our Republican leadership in Congress to immediately send bills to the President's desk that reflect the will of the American people," naming his CSAFE Act, Monitor Accountability Act, and Colorado River Basin Infrastructure Act as examples.
Act Before January
Biggs is not the only Arizona Republican calling for the Senate GOP to pursue legislation ahead of Democrats taking over in January, as Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) similarly posted on social media, "Part of why we lost the majority is that the House passed overwhelming America First legislation, and it was left to languish and die in the Senate. The American people gave us a mandate in 2024. We squandered it. The Senate can help salvage this mess by moving the legislation on their desk while there's still time."
