First appearance on Fox: House Republicans are filing articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, his office told Fox News Digital on Monday.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) plans to target Austin on Tuesday amid continued controversy over the Pentagon's delayed public announcement about Austin's hospitalization last week.
Rosendale told Fox News Digital that Austin has “violated his oath of office multiple times,” citing the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan, the migrant crisis at the border, and last year's incident with a Chinese spy ship over Afghanistan. He issued a statement saying that he believes that he has done so.continental United States
Pentagon deputy commander announces Austin hospitalized two days after taking over part of mission
House Republicans were shown introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Secretary Austin has allowed spy balloons from foreign adversaries to fly over Malmstrom Air Force Base, home to intercontinental ballistic missiles, and for allowing the Chinese Communist Party to collect intelligence on American citizens. He knowingly endangered the American people and jeopardized our national security,” the Montana Republican said.
“This dishonesty appears to be a repeating pattern, as the Secretary once again lied to the military and the American public about his health status last week.”
Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized due to surgical complications
Congressman Matt Rosendale, pictured, files articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Getty Images)
The Pentagon announced Friday that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1 due to complications from elective surgery. However, a Politico report has since revealed that not only was the media kept in the dark, but the highest levels of the White House and Pentagon officials also did not know until Thursday that Austin was hospitalized.
The nondisclosure raised bipartisan concerns, with top Democrats and Republicans on both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees calling for more transparency about the incident.
Pentagon announces new Red Sea international mission to counter escalating Houthi attacks on ships
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will host a ceremony at the National September 11 Pentagon Memorial on September 11, 2023. (AP/Manuel Balce Senator)
Rosendale's Monday night statement went beyond the health scandal, saying Austin “failed to uphold his oath of office during the Biden administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which led to the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers,” and called for a review. “This has led to an influx of immigrants into the United States who have not been accepted.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Secretary Austin has no place in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which is why I encourage my colleagues to work together to impeach him to protect the American people.”
Many Republican leaders are calling for Austin to be fired over his handling of the disclosure of his hospitalization information.
FOX News' Liz Frieden contributed to this report.
