Republican Thomas Massie moves to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

The impeachment push

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, moved Monday to force a vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pressing his fellow Republicans to remove one of the Trump administration’s most prominent figures following sweeping election losses blamed in part on fallout from the war in Iran.

Massie read the impeachment resolution from the House floor just hours after the House opened for the first day of sessions after the midterms. The resolution largely focuses on the war in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth’s role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.

Massie said Hegseth’s actions amounted to “high crimes and misdemeanors.” He said Hegseth “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” and “remains a threat to the Constitution.”

The articles include eight charges, largely related to the Iran war. The first article charges Hegseth with “waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat.” Other charges relate to allegations of “extrajudicial killings,” referring to strikes on alleged drug boats; “kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader,” referring to the U.S. capturing then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; and “unlawful war in Yemen.”

Reactions and next steps

A vote in the House could come by mid-week. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries supports the measure. If most Democrats follow him, Massie would only need support from a few Republicans to impeach Hegseth.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, endorsed the push. “Hegseth must stand trial before the Senate,” he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has tried to prevent the vote, said impeachment “in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that.”

President Donald Trump lashed out at Massie personally just hours after the congressman read the resolution, calling him a “loser” who “has a lot of hatred in his heart.” Trump defended Hegseth, saying, “He’s guilty of two things, basically winning two wars.”

Hegseth said Monday he will hold a news conference Tuesday morning to address efforts to impeach him. He told reporters, “We’re not worried about that.” Hegseth also said, “If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you’re taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic.”

Why it matters

If the House votes to impeach, the case would go to the Senate for a potential trial. Republicans remain in the majority in both chambers until the new Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control. Impeaching a cabinet secretary is rare; it must be approved by both chambers for the secretary to be removed from office.

Sources

• france24.com: US Republican Thomas Massie launches bid to impeach Pete Hegseth - France 24
• bbc.com: Republican Thomas Massie will force impeachment vote on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
• apnews.com: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky launches bid to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | AP News
• nbcnews.com: GOP Rep. Thomas Massie unveils impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
• nbcwashington.com: Rep. Thomas Massie unveils impeachment articles against Hegseth – NBC4 Washington
• latimes.com: Rep. Massie of Kentucky launches bid to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth - Los Angeles Times

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.