Arizona and California lawmakers call for Pete Hegseth to resign following war plan text leak
(KYMA, KECY) - U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) are calling on Pete Hegseth to resign as Secretary of Defense.
In two press releases obtained by KYMA, the call for Secretary Hegseth to step down comes after the Atlantic released screenshots showing Hegseth's texts, detailing plans "for strikes on the Houthi in Yemen on an unsecure app."
"Two months ago, on the day of Secretary Hegseth's confirmation vote, I asked my colleagues if it was worth the risk to our servicemembers and our national security to confirm the most unprepared nominee for this job we've ever seen. This is what happens when you put unqualified people in important jobs where lives are on the line. It's fortunate this massive error didn't result in American casualties, but for the safety of our servicemembers and our country, Secretary Hegseth needs to resign."
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.)
Prior to Hegseth's confirmation vote earlier this year, Senator Kelly expressed his concern about Hegseth speaking to his colleagues on the Senate floor:
"I'm concerned that soon the United States Senate might confirm the most unprepared nominee to lead the Department of Defense that has ever been put forward. Are you sure that you trust him with this job? Are you sure there isn't another individual the president could choose who could pursue the same goals but is better prepared to do this job? Are you sure it's worth the risk to our service members, to our national security, and to your families? I know I'm not."
Congressman Ruiz issued the following statement, also calling for Hegseth to resign, saying, "Fire Pete Hegseth! Posting classified war plans on a commercially available app is one of the worst national security breaches in history! It put American lives at risk!"
On Tuesday, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz appeared on Fox News, saying he takes "full responsibility" for putting together a text group which included Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic.
