Political | Process

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) is expected to file articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accusing the Biden administration official of violating his oath of office.

Rosendale plans to introduce the impeachment charges when lawmakers reconvene on Tuesday evening, citing several incidents in which the Montana Republican believes Austin failed to complete his duties since he took the position in 2021. The impeachment effort escalates the recent criticism Republicans have levied against Austin over the last week after he was hospitalized but did not disclose his condition until four days later.

“Sec. Austin has violated his oath of office time and time again, and has jeopardized the lives of the American people,” Rosendale said in a statement. “Sec. Austin is unfit for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which is why I urge my colleagues to join me in impeaching him to protect the American people.”

Rosendale listed a number of incidents he argues are evidence that Austin is unfit for the position, including his handling of the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, the crisis at the southern border, and the Biden administration’s response to a Chinese spy balloon that was detected in U.S. airspace last year.

“Sec. Austin knowingly put the American people in danger and compromised our national security when he allowed a spy balloon from a foreign adversary to fly over Malmstrom Air Force Base — home to ICBMs — and allowed the Chinese Communist Party to gather intel on American citizens.

Moreover, recent reports show that Sec. Austin lied about the balloon repeatedly, putting the American people in danger,” Rosendale said. “This dishonesty seems to be a repeated pattern for the Secretary as he once again lied to our military and the American people about his health last week.”

It’s not entirely clear whether the efforts to impeach Austin will gain much traction in the House, especially as Republicans are already focused on impeaching President Joe Biden and Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Rosendale doesn’t plan to file the resolution as privileged making it unlikely the legislation will even be brought to the floor for consideration.

Even if the resolution did advance through the House, the effort would likely be dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate.