All politics: Pentagon chief rips impeachment threat as stunt at rare briefing

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the rare briefing, said the impeachment effort was not a genuine attempt at congressional oversight but a personal attack by a "disgruntled and defeated congressman".US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday dismissed a Republican congressman's push to impeach him as a political stunt, defending the Trump administration's military operations in Iran and elsewhere during his first Pentagon news conference in about six months.Hegseth, speaking at the rare briefing, said the impeachment effort was not a genuine attempt at congressional oversight but a personal attack by a "disgruntled and defeated congressman"."It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it," Hegseth said.The remarks came a day after Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky unveiled eight articles of impeachment against the Defence Secretary. Massie has accused Hegseth of violating the US Constitution and other laws through military operations in Iran and elsewhere. Hegseth showed little concern about the threat, saying he was "not worried" about the impeachment effort. Massie, however, is seeking to force a vote in the House on the resolution.HEGSETH CALLS IMPEACHMENT BID 'POLITICAL SPECTACLE'Hegseth used the briefing to directly attack Massie, arguing that the impeachment effort was motivated by personal and politicalgrievances rather than concerns about the conduct of the Defence Department. "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment...time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president," he said.This is a developing story. It will be updated.- Ends