Republican Representative Matt Rosendale of Montana has announced his intention to introduce one or more articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Citing “high crimes and misdemeanors,” Rosendale claims that Austin has repeatedly violated his oath of office and put the American people in danger.
One of the key allegations made by Rosendale is that Austin lied about a Chinese spy balloon flyover incident last year. According to Rosendale, recent reports have exposed Austin’s dishonesty on the matter. The congressman also pointed to the Department of Defense’s delayed disclosure of Austin’s hospitalization for a undisclosed elective medical procedure as evidence of the defense secretary’s lack of transparency.
Rosendale further criticized Austin for his handling of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 American soldiers and allowed unvetted migrants to enter the United States. The Republican representative also referenced a rape case involving an Afghan in Missoula as he argued that Austin is unfit for his position.
Calls for Austin’s resignation or termination have come not only from GOP lawmakers but also from former President Donald Trump. However, some Democrats have called for more transparency regarding Austin’s hospital stay. Despite these concerns, President Joe Biden has expressed confidence in Austin and looks forward to his return to the Pentagon.
It is worth noting that this impeachment effort against Austin comes on top of another corruption-focused inquiry initiated by the GOP-led House against President Biden. Additionally, a committee plans to launch impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of border security.
While these impeachment endeavors are underway, it remains uncertain whether they will result in successful impeachment votes. The coming days will reveal the level of support these impeachment efforts gain within Congress.
