On Tuesday, Congressman Matt Rosendale (MT-02) took a big step within the Home of Representatives by submitting articles of impeachment towards U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd James Austin III.
After delivering the decision, Rep. Rosendale launched an announcement by way of video.
“I simply dropped off the decision for the impeachment of Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Protection,” stated Rosendale.
“It’s Home Decision 951 that needs to be assigned to a committee and start consideration in order that he may have his day in court docket, as they are saying, and due course of to contemplate and attempt to defend the nationwide safety issues that he has induced our nation since his affirmation,” he added.
In a post, Rosendale wrote, “The sample of misinformation and lies he has offered to the American individuals are a critical risk to our nationwide safety and can’t be tolerated. It’s time to make a change.”
Simply dropped off articles of impeachment towards Protection Sec. Lloyd Austin.
The sample of misinformation and lies he has offered to the American individuals are a critical risk to our nationwide safety and can’t 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 undermines his place and the respect of america by allegedly aiding its enemies.
The articles outlined the following points:
Lloyd James Austin III, in his conduct as Secretary of Protection, has acted opposite to the belief and responsibility of an Officer of america and has degraded the respect of america by offering assist to its enemies:
Secretary Austin took an oath to assist and defend the Structure of america towards all enemies, overseas and home, when he was sworn in as Secretary of Protection on January 22, 2021.
Secretary Austin didn’t uphold his oath of workplace when he allowed a Chinese language high-altitude balloon to fly over North American airspace unimpeded from January 28 to February 4, 2023:
(1) Secretary Austin’s failure to demolish or impede the balloon when it was first detected resulted within the balloon hovering over Malmstrom Air Power base, which is one in every of three U.S. navy websites that homes intercontinental ballistic missiles.
(2) Secretary Austin failed to satisfy the duties of his workplace by both willfully ignoring out there reviews or failing to analyze the properties of an enemy balloon over U.S. navy bases: within the months following the incident it was extensively reported that the balloon had the power to seize photos and transmit indicators regardless of preliminary statements from the Pentagon. Whether or not Secretary Austin knowingly or unknowingly allowed an enemy to gather information on U.S. navy bases, his conduct proves him unfit for Workplace and reveals a dereliction of responsibility.
(3) Regardless of the balloon being tracked by the Pentagon when it entered Montana air area on January 31, 2023, Secretary Austin didn’t order the balloon to be intercepted. Furthermore, Secretary Austin didn’t arrange a briefing for Members of Congress till the presence of a Chinese language balloon was publicly reported and Secretary Austin has by no means spoken on to the American individuals impacted.
(4) Within the months to come back, beneath the path of Secretary Austin, Pentagon officers lied to the American individuals in regards to the incident and the risks posed to america. It was reported in December of 2023 that the Chinese language balloon used a U.S. web service supplier to transmit information and that the Biden Administration meant to remain silent had Americans not reported the balloon.
Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin, 70, secretly had prostate cancer surgery on December 22, Walter Reed medical doctors revealed in an announcement on Tuesday, including Austin was positioned beneath normal anesthesia for the operation. The Pentagon stated yesterday that Austin didn’t inform Joe Biden, the White Home or Deputy Secretary of Protection Kathleen Hicks in regards to the medical process. (Word: Austin was beneath normal anesthesia for the Dec. 22 process however not when he was handled within the ICU after January 1.)
Austin was secretly taken again to the hospital by ambulance per week afterward New 12 months’s Day in “extreme ache” from issues from the most cancers surgical procedure the place he then spent per week being handled within the Intensive Care Unit at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart in Bethesda, Maryland.
Austin stored nearly everybody at midnight about his situation till final week, together with Joe Biden despite the fact that the U.S. is concerned in conflicts within the Center East and Europe and a scorching zone within the South China Sea.
When requested whether it is acceptable to file impeachment articles towards Secretary Austin, given his current analysis of prostate most cancers, Congressman Rosendale responded by emphasizing the separation between the Secretary’s well being points and the fees towards him.
“These articles of impeachment had been deliberate and introduced ahead for me to evaluate, and that is simply the primary day that we had been again in session the place I used to be ready to take action. However his present well being situation put aside doesn’t take away the violations of public belief and the endangerment that he positioned america safety beneath.”
WATCH:
Rep. Matt Rosendale was requested if now’s the suitable time to file articles of impeachment towards Secretary Austin contemplating his current prostate most cancers analysis.
“His present well being situation put aside doesn’t take away the violations of public belief and the endangerment… pic.twitter.com/LBbPREzetY
— Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) January 9, 2024
President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social Sunday night time calling on Joe Biden to fireplace Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin for “improper skilled conduct and dereliction of responsibility.”
Nonetheless, Joe Biden has no plans to fire Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in accordance with feedback to reporters Monday morning by White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre and Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby stated Biden “seems ahead to having him again on the Pentagon as quickly as potential” and that Biden “respects the truth that Secretary Austin took possession for the shortage of transparency. He additionally respects the wonderful job he’s finished as Protection Secretary…”