Hardline House Republican Matt Rosendale of Montana on Monday introduced an impeachment resolution against Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for failing to inform the White House and Congress last week that he had been hospitalized for several days. announced plans to submit. These include the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that flew over parts of the country last year.
Rosendale, who is scheduled to introduce articles of impeachment during the House session Tuesday afternoon, said Austin's decision not to disclose his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., “violated his oath of office.” He put people's lives at risk.” American people,” according to a statement from his office.
In an interview with vince colyanese show Earlier Monday, Rosendale, who had just returned to Washington, D.C., declined to say who would co-sponsor his action, saying his team was still “putting this together.”
“I'm introducing an impeachment resolution tomorrow. This is really, really horrifying. . . . If the Secretary of Defense is MIA, that means everything else, all the threats that are presented to the country, that are happening all over the world right now. “It just exacerbates all the conflicts that are out there. This is very problematic,” Rosendale said.I'm serious about running” U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jon Tester.
Austin and the Biden administration said the Pentagon failed to disclose that Austin was first admitted to the hospital on Dec. 22 for elective surgery and then readmitted to the hospital on Jan. 1 because of health issues caused by the surgery. As a result, they are facing increased scrutiny. Biden, like other administration officials, was left in the dark until Thursday, but Congress was not notified until late Friday afternoon.
Rosendale is not the only House Republican to call for Austin's ouster. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R.N.Y.), chair of the House Republican Conference, earlier said that Austin's unannounced absence in the midst of multiple global conflicts involving the United States was a sign of trust in the chain of command. He said that he should resign immediately because he was causing harm to the government.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley called for President Biden's removal from office Monday night outside Congress, citing a lack of disclosure by the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, former President Trump called for Austin to be fired in a post on his platform Truth Social.
But the Biden administration is adamant that Austin stay on, with national security spokesman John Kirby telling reporters on Monday that the White House has no plans to fire the Pentagon chief.
The same day, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said that neither Mr. Austin nor his staff planned to resign.
As of Monday night, Austin remained hospitalized at Walter Reed Hospital. The Pentagon has not provided a specific date for his release.
Updated at 8:48 p.m.
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