On Tuesday, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) took an important step in the House of Representatives by filing articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III.
After the resolution was delivered, Rep. Rosendahl issued a statement via video.
“I just dropped the impeachment resolution for Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense,” Rosendahl said.
“House Resolution 951 is one that should be assigned to a committee and begin consideration so that it has its day in court, as they say, and due process to look at and try to defend the national security problems it has caused our country ever since,” he added his emphasis.
in mail“The pattern of misinformation and lies he has presented to the American people poses a grave threat to our national security and cannot be tolerated,” Rosendahl wrote. “It's time to make a change.”
You just dropped articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Defense. Lloyd Austin.
The pattern of misinformation and lies he has presented to the American people constitutes a grave threat to our national security and cannot be tolerated.
It's time to make a change. pic.twitter.com/2GZi2trSPD
– Matt Rosendale (@RepRosendale) January 10, 2024
The articles of impeachment accuse Secretary Austin of conduct that undermined his position and the honor of the United States by aiding its enemies.
The articles clarified the following points:
Lloyd James Austin III, in his conduct as Secretary of Defense, has acted contrary to the trust and duty of an officer of the United States and has dishonored the United States by rendering aid to its enemies:
Secretary Austin took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when he was sworn in as Secretary of Defense on January 22, 2021.
Secretary Austin failed to fulfill his oath when he allowed a Chinese high-altitude balloon to fly unhindered over North American airspace from January 28 to February 4, 2023:
(1) Secretary Austin's failure to demolish or obstruct the balloon when it was first detected resulted in the balloon flying over Malmstrom Air Force Base, one of three U.S. military sites containing intercontinental ballistic missiles.
(2) Secretary Austin failed to fulfill the duties of his office by either willfully ignoring available reports or failing to investigate the characteristics of an enemy airship over U.S. military bases: In the months following the incident, it was widely reported that the airship had the ability to take photographs and transmit signals over Despite the initial statements of the Pentagon. Whether Secretary Austin knowingly or unknowingly allowed the enemy to collect data on U.S. military bases, his conduct demonstrates that he is unfit for office and demonstrates a dereliction of duty.
(3) Although the Pentagon tracked the balloon when it entered Montana airspace on January 31, 2023, Secretary Austin did not order the interception of the balloon. Furthermore, Secretary Austin did not organize a briefing for members of Congress until the presence of a Chinese balloon was publicly reported, and Secretary Austin did not speak directly to the affected American people.
(4) In the following months, under Secretary Austin's direction, Pentagon officials lied to the American people about the incident and the risks to the United States. It was reported in December of 2023 that the Chinese balloon used an American ISP to transfer data and that the Biden administration intended to remain silent if American citizens did not report the balloon.
Walter Reed doctors revealed in a statement on Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, secretly underwent prostate cancer surgery on December 22, adding that Austin was placed under general anesthesia for the procedure. The Pentagon said yesterday that Austin did not inform Joe Biden, the White House, or Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks about the medical procedure. (Note: Austin was under general anesthesia for the procedure on December 22, but not when he was treated in the ICU after January 1.)
Austin was secretly taken to hospital by ambulance a week later on New Year's Day in “extreme pain” from complications of cancer surgery where he subsequently spent a week receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. , Maryland.
Austin had kept everyone in the dark about his condition until last week, including Joe Biden even though the US is embroiled in conflicts in the Middle East, Europe and a hotspot in the South China Sea.
When asked whether it was appropriate to file articles of impeachment against Secretary Austin, in light of his recent prostate cancer diagnosis, Congressman Rosendale responded by emphasizing the separation between the Secretary's health issues and the charges against him.
“These articles of impeachment were planned and submitted to me for review, and this is only the first day back in session that I have been able to do so. But his current health status aside does not remove the violations of public trust and danger he has placed the security of the United States under.”
He watches:
Rep. Matt Rosendahl was asked if this was the right time to file articles of impeachment against Secretary Austin given his recent prostate cancer diagnosis.
He added: “His current health condition aside, this does not remove the violation of public trust and his exposure to danger. pic.twitter.com/LBbPREzetY
– Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) January 9, 2024
President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social on Sunday night calling on Joe Biden to fire Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for “improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty.”
However, Joe Biden has no plans to fire Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, according to comments made to reporters Monday morning by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby said Biden “looks forward to getting him back to the Pentagon as soon as possible” and that Biden “respects the fact that Secretary Austin takes responsibility for the lack of transparency.” He also respects the great job he did as Secretary of Defense.
