NY — In the wake of new reporting regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reckless mishandling of  classified information, including discussing  active U.S. military strikes in an unsecured Signal group chat, Peter Chatzky, Candidate for Congress in NY-17, is calling for Hegseth’s impeachment.

Democratic Candidate for Congress, Peter Chatzky, released the following statement:

“Pete Hegseth was never qualified to be our Secretary of Defense to begin with and the report from his own Pentagon has confirmed that he recklessly  endangered U.S. troops and put our national security at risk by discussing potential airstrikes over an unsecure platform.. That alone warrants his removal from his position.  Our service members deserve competence and accountability, not reckless behavior that puts their lives at risk. If Mr. Hegseth had any decency he would resign but in the event that he does not, he must be impeached by Congress and removed from office.

Unfortunately, this type of careless and unethical behavior extends throughout today’s Republican Party, including right here at home. One of Mike Lawler’s top staffers was found to have  used Signal to coordinate unethical and shady political activity too. Whether it’s a Defense Secretary or a Congressional office, the message is the same: they think the rules don’t apply to them and they couldn’t care less about putting American lives at risk.

I’m running for Congress to fix our broken political system. I’m the candidate who will reject AIPAC money, the only one calling for new Democratic leadership in Washington, and the only one pushing for universal healthcare — because I’m not bought by corporate or insider interests. And I certainly will never break the law or jeopardize our national security in the name of convenience or self interest. 

Washington protects its own. I’ll protect the people. Hegseth must go — and this culture of impunity must end.”

Peter Chatzky is running for Congress in NY-17 to lower costs, deliver universal healthcare, and clean up the culture of corruption in Washington.