1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Demand Impeachment of Pete Hegseth and an Immediate Halt to the Public Execution Broadcast As a United States military veteran, I am outraged by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership and the Pentagon’s reported plan to livestream the December 3 execution of former Army Major Nidal Hasan. This is barbaric, disgraceful, and fundamentally contrary to the values America claims to defend. Hasan’s murder of 13 people at Fort Hood was horrific. The victims and their families deserve justice, dignity, and respect. But justice does not require turning an execution into a televised spectacle. What are we teaching our children? That state-sanctioned killing should become public entertainment? The Taliban publicly executes people as a display of state power. America should not adopt spectacles reminiscent of the authoritarian practices we have historically condemned. There is a difference between administering justice under law and turning death into a public display of government power. While this administration prepares to broadcast an execution, American service members are dying in another devastating conflict. Reporting cites 19 killed and more than 800 wounded in the war with Iran. These are not statistics. They are our sons, daughters, spouses, parents, and fellow Americans. Reports of inadequate air defenses, ignored warnings, delayed medical care, and families struggling for answers demand scrutiny. I find it unconscionable that troops face these dangers while families demand basic transparency and accountability. Enough is enough. I call on Congress to: 1. Initiate impeachment proceedings against Hegseth and investigate potential misconduct or abuse of office. 2. Demand cancellation of the execution livestream and examine its legal authorization. 3. Conduct independent oversight of the Iran war, including casualties, operational decisions, force protection, medical care, and justification for continued operations. 4. Require accountability for military deaths and injuries and disclose findings to Gold Star families to the fullest extent allowed by law. 5. Examine Hegseth’s decisions affecting military readiness, constitutional protections, religious freedom, and troop welfare. The House can initiate impeachment; the Senate conducts a trial if articles are adopted. Congress must exercise oversight rather than permit unchecked executive power. As veterans, we swore to support and defend the Constitution, not a president, party, or individual leader. We did not serve so executions could become televised spectacles while American troops die in a war whose costs demand scrutiny. This reign of fear, violence, and disregard for human life must end. I expect a substantive written response on the execution broadcast, Iran war oversight, and accountability for Hegseth. Our military deserves responsible leadership. Our fallen deserve answers. Our children deserve a country that does not glorify killing. Do your constitutional duty.