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Next Time, Impeach Pete Hegseth for Press Censorship
The article argues that Congress should include press censorship in any future effort to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose latest impeachment resolution failed on Tuesday. It says the resolution addressed alleged misconduct in military campaigns and retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly, but omitted Hegseth’s actions against journalists and press freedom.
The author cites the Pentagon’s removal of four news organisations from dedicated workspaces in February 2025, followed by rules requiring journalists to pledge not to seek unauthorised information. Courts struck down two versions of those rules, while a separate requirement to escort reporters around the building remains in litigation. The article also describes restrictions on Stars and Stripes, a ban on press photographers, and efforts to identify and prosecute government leakers.
In short
- The failed impeachment resolution did not address Hegseth’s treatment of the press.
- Courts rejected two Pentagon policies restricting journalists’ access.
- The author urges Congress to consider press freedom in future impeachment efforts.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A future impeachment effort should include press restrictions because independent reporting helps the public scrutinise the military, and broad limits on journalists’ access or information gathering may weaken that oversight. The court rulings against two versions of the Pentagon’s rules, alongside restrictions affecting Stars and Stripes and press photographers, could support the case that these actions crossed legal or constitutional lines and merit congressional accountability.
The case against
Impeachment is an exceptional remedy, and restrictions on access, photography or unauthorised information may be defended as measures to protect operational security, classified material and the safe functioning of the Pentagon. Disputes over press rules can be addressed through litigation and ordinary oversight; unless the evidence shows serious, attributable misconduct that meets the constitutional threshold, adding them to an impeachment effort could weaken its focus and credibility.