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On Wednesday, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., submitted articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Rosendale believes this is necessary because Austin violated his duties by failing to report his recent hospitalization.
Rep. Rosendale said in a statement that “Sec. Austin has violated his oath of office time and time again and has jeopardized the lives of the American people.” Rosendale noted that Austin “is unfit for the Office of Secretary of Defense, which is why I urge my colleagues to join me in impeaching him to protect the American people.”
The congressman argued that Austin should be impeached for his failure to notify the White House of his hospitalization. Rosendale cited poor handling of his responsibilities, including the Afghanistan withdrawal, the U.S.-Mexico border crisis, and the Chinese spy balloon incident.
Rosendale’s argument about Austin’s impeachment is further validated by an observation made by Fox News host Harris Faulkner. She argued, “The American people have the right to expect those who are in high office to meet high ethics and transparency standards.”
Faulkner added that “the man in charge of our nation’s military defense was out of commission for several days and even left the president of the United States in the dark and without the facts.” She is referring to Congress finally being notified of Austin’s second hospitalization by the Pentagon last Friday, four days after Austin was admitted.
Austin released a statement, saying he “could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed.” It is also worth noting that it remains unclear if Rosendale’s call for impeachment will successfully pass with House Republicans, who are working to impeach President Joe Biden and Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
