Rep. Yassamin Ansari Says Pentagon Officials Who Carried Out Orders 'Need to Be Investigated'
A Democratic congresswoman is calling for investigations into people "down the chain" at the Pentagon who carried out orders under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, drawing a sharp response from the Pentagon.
Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, who filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth in April, made the comments Tuesday in a video posted to X.
"I have long supported impeachment of President Trump," Ansari said. "I also think that people down the chain at the Pentagon who carried out these orders need to be investigated."
She went on to warn those working under the administration's decision-makers to think carefully about the orders they follow.
READ MORE: Speaker Johnson Rips Massie's Push to Impeach Hegseth as a 'Political Gambit'
"So that is why it's important for everyone, you know, who works for these individuals who are making these decisions, [to take] very seriously, you know, what the Constitution says and what types of orders they're being given. This is all very, very serious, and there is going to be a world beyond this administration," she said.
Pentagon Fires Back
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded on X, pointing to a warning Hegseth had issued earlier that day as lawmakers pushed to impeach him over the Iran war.
"Secretary Hegseth warned the American people about this earlier today: 'This resolution is the next step: put the Secretary on trial today, and the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow,'" Parnell wrote.
"We will have our warriors' backs," he added.
Ansari's comments came on the same day the House voted on an impeachment resolution against Hegseth brought by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The House blocked the resolution in a 211-204 vote, though another attempt is expected after Democrats take control of the chamber in January.
At a defiant press conference Tuesday morning, Hegseth said the effort against him was driven by "policy disagreements, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause." He added that he "would do it again tomorrow."
READ MORE: Jeffries Says He's a 'Hard Yes' on Impeaching Hegseth as Massie Readies Vote
The 'Illegal Orders' Video
Ansari also referred to a 2025 video in which Democratic lawmakers urged members of the military to push back against orders they considered unlawful.
In that video, Reps. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Jason Crow of Colorado joined Democratic Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona in addressing service members and intelligence professionals directly.
"We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now," the Democrats said, taking turns reading the same statement. "Americans trust their military. But that trust is at risk."
"This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens," they said. "Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home."
"Our laws are clear," the lawmakers concluded. "You can refuse illegal orders."
Conservatives quickly blasted Ansari's latest remarks online, accusing her of targeting troops who followed lawful orders. Hegseth has said he stands behind every operation carried out on Trump's orders and has vowed to defend the service members who executed them.