Democratic Candidate Cait Conley Supports Impeachment of War Secretary Hegseth

Democratic congressional candidate Cait Conley, a seasoned 16-year Army combat veteran, is challenging Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th Congressional District. On CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Conley expressed her support for impeaching War Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of jeopardizing U.S. national security.

During the program, anchor Dana Bash asked Conley if she would back the removal of Hegseth from office if elected to Congress. Conley responded decisively, stating, ‘I believe he has been a hazard to American national security and a disgrace to the office. I would absolutely support removing him from office because his actions and decisions are failing service members who have sworn an oath to this country and deserve respect.’

Lawler’s campaign manager, Ciro Riccardi, noted Conley’s support for impeachment in a statement, tying it to broader criticisms of her candidacy. Riccardi highlighted her reluctance to distance herself from figures like Zohran Mamdani and accused her of embracing an extreme position.

The push for Hegseth’s impeachment is not new. In recent months, House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against him, focusing on his conduct during the Iran war, military strikes, and his use of the Signal app for operation discussions.

Despite these actions, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson called out such efforts, asserting Hegseth’s continued focus on the department’s mission. Wilson remarked, ‘This is just another Democrat trying to make headlines as the Department of War decisively and overwhelmingly achieved the president’s objectives in Iran.’

Hegseth himself has faced waves of criticism and attributed negative press to discontent among former employees. He stated, ‘This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. It’s not going to work with me.’

The pressure on Hegseth is bipartisan. Republican Senator Thom Tillis recently urged President Trump to replace Hegseth, following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The White House, however, affirmed Trump’s confidence in Hegseth, describing him as doing an ‘incredible job.’

Driscoll’s resignation reportedly stemmed from friction with Hegseth over Army modernization efforts, although Driscoll publicly praised Hegseth upon leaving office.

Fox News Digital reached out to Hegseth’s office, the White House, and Conley for comments, but no immediate responses were available.

CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News. He joined Fox News Digital in 2026 and holds a background in Political Science and Journalism from Long Beach State University.