Salinas Fumes After House Shelves Hegseth Impeachment: ‘A Liability And A Disgrace’

Oregon — Oregon Rep. Andrea Salinas delivered a blistering response after the House sidelined an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, blaming him for American military deaths, higher household costs and what she described as an illegal war in Iran.

“Pete Hegseth is a liability and a disgrace. He deserves to be impeached and removed immediately,” Salinas said in her November 10 statement.

The Democrat, who represents Oregon’s 6th Congressional District, opposed a motion to send the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee. The motion passed 211–204, preventing an immediate vote on the proposed articles.

Although Salinas described her position as voting to advance impeachment, the recorded vote was on committee referral. Her no vote opposed that procedural move; the House did not vote on whether to impeach Hegseth or establish the truth of the allegations.

Salinas’ statement tied her demand for removal to both the human cost of military operations and financial pressures on Oregon families.

“Because of Pete Hegseth, more than 20 American servicemembers are dead,” she said.

She also blamed Hegseth for higher gasoline prices and tighter household budgets, accusing him of helping draw the United States into another prolonged Middle East conflict despite President Donald Trump’s promises to avoid one.

Those assertions were Salinas’ characterization of Hegseth’s responsibility. Her statement did not provide supporting casualty records, an economic analysis separating the causes of higher prices or a legal analysis establishing that the Iran war was unlawful.

Salinas also attacked Hegseth’s qualifications and military personnel decisions. She alleged that he had dismissed military leaders without cause, primarily women and people of color, contradicting his pledge to promote leaders based on merit. The statement did not identify individual dismissals or provide figures supporting that demographic characterization.

The impeachment effort was brought by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican. His 34-page resolution contained eight articles addressing Iran war powers, civilian protections, strikes on suspected drug boats, alleged retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and military operations in Yemen.

The official roll call shows that 210 Republicans and independent Rep. Kevin Kiley supported referral. Massie joined all 203 voting Democrats in opposing it. Seven Republicans and 11 Democrats did not vote.

Oregon’s delegation split along party lines. Salinas, Suzanne Bonamici, Maxine Dexter, Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum opposed referral. Republican Cliff Bentz supported it.

Hegseth and the administration rejected the impeachment case. In remarks published by the White House, Hegseth maintained that the operations were lawful, ordered by Trump and reported to Congress. He characterized the accusations as policy disagreements rather than impeachable misconduct.

The administration’s formal policy statement urged lawmakers to support referral and defended the president’s constitutional authority to direct military operations.

The vote left Hegseth in office and the resolution in committee, without a House determination on the merits of its eight charges.