Retired Army combat veteran Mike Sapraicone, who is mounting a primary challenge against Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), has taken sharp aim at Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, calling him a “national security hazard” and lining up behind Republican calls to impeach President Joe Biden.
Sapraicone, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, launched his campaign against Lawler by targeting both his Republican rival and some of the biggest names in conservative media. In comments reported by Fox News, Sapraicone did not hold back about Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army veteran himself.
“Pete Hegseth is a national security hazard,” Sapraicone said, as quoted by Fox News. He did not elaborate on specific actions or statements by Hegseth that led to this accusation. Lawler has not publicly responded to Sapraicone’s criticism of Hegseth.
Sapraicone also voiced strong support for the ongoing Republican push to impeach President Biden, staking out a position that sets him apart from Lawler. According to Fox News, Sapraicone said he would vote in favor of impeachment if elected.
“I would absolutely vote to impeach Joe Biden,” Sapraicone declared.
Lawler, representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, has not taken a public stance identical to Sapraicone’s on the impeachment question, according to the Fox News report. The district is viewed as a battleground, with both parties vying for control in the upcoming election.
The Republican primary contest between Sapraicone and Lawler highlights deep divisions within the party over how aggressively to pursue President Biden and how closely to align with conservative media figures. Sapraicone’s criticism of Hegseth, a prominent Fox News voice, signals a willingness to confront not only political rivals but also influential media personalities who shape the conservative conversation.
On the impeachment front, Sapraicone’s commitment to vote for removing Biden from office, if given the chance, puts added pressure on Lawler as the campaign heats up. Lawler’s district has been a focal point for both national parties, with legal and constitutional questions swirling around the impeachment drive.
At this stage, Fox News has not reported any formal response from Lawler or Hegseth to Sapraicone’s statements. The legal process for impeachment would require a majority vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate. Sapraicone’s public stance commits him to supporting this process if he wins the seat.
Voters in the 17th District will soon have to decide which vision for the GOP they want to send to Washington: one aligned with the current House incumbent, or the challenger who has openly called out both political and media power players.
For conservatives, this primary is a test of real accountability, not just in Washington, but in the media echo chamber that shapes national security debates and impeachment talk alike.
