U.S. Democrats Strike Back, Signal Impeachment Wave for Trump Allies... Musk Also Targeted for Investigation

House Democratic Leader Jeffries
"Hegseth Abused His Power... Must Go"
Secretary Kennedy Jr. Also a Target

After taking control of both chambers of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections, Democrats have announced plans for sweeping congressional investigations targeting close allies of President Donald Trump. Democratic leaders are also openly discussing the possibility of impeaching Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the Pentagon headquarters in Virginia on the 15th of last month (local time). Reuters-Yonhap News

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC's "This Week" on November 8 (local time) that he expected strong support within his party for impeaching Hegseth.

Jeffries, who is expected to become the next House speaker, said, "Hegseth abused his power, undermined national security, and planned a reckless and costly war with Iran," adding, "Hegseth must go." There are also signs of support for impeachment among Republicans. Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who has clashed with President Trump, said he plans to reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth as early as November 9. Jeffries said Democratic lawmakers would discuss the articles once they gather on November 10.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kennedy Jr. and Attorney General Todd Blanche are also being mentioned as potential impeachment targets. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who works with Democrats, said in an interview on November 8 that he was "absolutely open" to impeaching Kennedy Jr. On November 5, Democratic Representative Hank Johnson called for Blanche's impeachment and removal from office, accusing him of using the Justice Department as a tool for political retaliation and trying to undermine the rule of law.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the 6th (local time). Reuters-Yonhap News.

On November 8, Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, who is being considered for chair of the House Oversight Committee, also said he would actively investigate corruption allegations involving the Trump Administration and corporations. He singled out the process by which Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last year and oversaw large-scale cuts to the federal workforce. Garcia also said he plans to investigate the business activities of President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Democrats plan to broaden the scope of their congressional investigations to cover corporations across the board. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is expected to chair the Senate Banking Committee, warned that companies that have profited by deceiving consumers or investors should prepare for intense congressional scrutiny.

However, some Democrats have expressed concern that focusing too heavily on congressional investigations and impeachment could push the cost-of-living pledges they made during the midterm elections to the back burner. Senator-elect Adam Hamilton said on November 8, "What matters most to Americans is lowering the cost of living," adding, "It would be deeply disappointing if we spent the first two years in the Senate focused only on investigations." The Financial Times (FT) reported that removing officials through impeachment would also be difficult. Under the U.S. Constitution, the House can approve articles of impeachment by a simple majority, but the Senate needs the support of at least two-thirds of the members present to convict and remove an official from office.

The Trump Administration has also signaled a hard-line response to these efforts. President Trump criticized the Democrats' investigations as "extortion" and ordered the Justice Department to investigate. Attorney General Blanche told CNN on November 8 that the Democrats' investigations and impeachment threats were baseless political attacks, and raised the possibility of criminal investigations into some Democratic lawmakers.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, watches U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on May 30, 2025. Reuters-Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, Democrats are also expected to challenge many of President Trump's key economic policies, including his tariff policy. CNBC and other U.S. business media outlets reported that Democrats plan to pursue legislation and congressional investigations targeting Trump's tariff policy as soon as the new Congress convenes in January 2027.

Democrats plan to focus on introducing bills to reverse major Trump Administration policies, including eliminating tariffs, during the new Congress's first 100 hours. In particular, Abdul El-Sayed, elected to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate, said on November 5 that the trade war with Canada must end, calling it "an urgent priority."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.