Late Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House voted to sideline Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) latest impeachment resolution against Hegseth. However, when Democrats take control of the House in January, efforts to formally charge and impeach the defense secretary are expected to resume.
Following Tuesday's vote, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesman, released a statement saying that "despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats," Hegseth is "100% committed to leading the department until the end of President (Donald) Trump's term in office."
Although impeachment would not automatically mean Hegseth loses his job, the prospect of renewed proceedings comes amid rumors that he could be considered for a U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee.
Hegseth and the White House have rejected calls for him to leave the Cabinet, but Bob Maginnis believes incoming Tennessee Gov. Marsha Blackburn (R) could ultimately name Hegseth as her successor in the U.S. Senate.
"I would not dismiss that," he says.
Current media reports paint a different picture. USA Today, The Washington Post and the Associated Press indicate that Blackburn has no plans to appoint Hegseth to her soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat.
Former professional wrestler Glenn Jacobs, better known by his WWE name Kane, has emerged as the leading contender.
Rep. Tim Burchett has also publicly expressed interest in the appointment, while Rep. Chuck Fleischmann has been mentioned as another possible choice. Stuart McWhorter, Blackburn's transition team leader and a top adviser to outgoing Gov. Bill Lee, is also among those being considered.
While President Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, saying he has "every intention" of keeping him in the Cabinet and dismissing calls for his replacement, Maginnis questions whether Hegseth is the right person to lead the Pentagon through the challenges ahead. He argues that Trump needs someone who can work with the opposition.
"He doesn't get along with anybody on the Hill from what I've seen," the former Pentagon adviser says of Hegseth. "If you want to get your appropriations done, if you want to rebuild a relationship, you have to have somebody at the helm of the Pentagon that can do that."
"Bringing in a fire breather is not going to build those relationships that I think a legacy-looking Trump wants," Maginnis asserts.
He sees the benefit of transitioning Hegseth to the Senate, particularly if it has the president's backing.
"Marsha Blackburn has been aligned with the president and is going to support what the president wants, so if it comes down to an Oval Office meeting between Marsha and Trump, I think that it would probably be in the best interest of the country that Pete makes that transition," Maginnis says, adding, "We're months away from that particular announcement one way or the other."
