Despite claims that Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) is the most bipartisan member of Congress, her recent comments about Army Secretary Pete Hegseth suggest otherwise. During an event at the Sun City Liberal Club in Las Vegas, she expressed frustration about Hegseth, stating it would make her want to “smash him.” Lee, who is campaigning for re-election, emphasized her commitment to bipartisanship by saying, “I want to be bipartisan. I want to work across the aisle. That’s the only way to get things done.”
She mentioned interactions with Hegseth during a congressional committee meeting, implying that confronting him was a simple task. “Yes, it’s that simple. Yes, you just want to slam him down,” she noted, which drew laughter and cheers from the audience. She was discussing a Nevada-based company, MP Materials, which is essential for U.S. mineral production and has her support.
Lee’s remarks about Hegseth came while addressing the pressure he faced during a hearing regarding the Pentagon’s investments. She pointed out his supposed support for American-made products and questioned why funds were directed toward an Australian company instead of MP Materials.
After her comments, Republican National Committee spokesman Nick Poche criticized her, asking whether she believed her rhetoric was genuinely persuasive. He suggested that Nevadans need a leader focused on their needs rather than someone who prioritizes personal financial gains.
Adding to the controversy, a bipartisan ethics watchdog is calling for an investigation into Lee’s stock transactions from 2022, as she allegedly failed to disclose trades worth up to $155,000 and missed reporting trades up to $3.3 million on time.
Moreover, Fox reported that MP Materials secured a significant deal with the Department of Defense, which involves a $400 million investment, making the federal government its largest shareholder, thus enhancing the U.S. rare earth magnet supply chain.
Lee’s comments about Hegseth also followed an Associated Press post about Donald Trump’s upcoming appearance at a birthright citizenship hearing. She made a rather controversial remark online, which she later deleted, leading to further scrutiny of her statements.
In a separate context, Dr. Jeff Gunter, a potential Republican challenger, accused Lee of aiding the Biden administration in what he framed as a flood of illegal immigration into the country. He indicated that if he became the Republican candidate for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, he would aim to unseat her, arguing that her actions have prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens.
