US Representative Thomas Massie moves to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

US Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed an impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the House on Monday, according to The Mirror. The resolution focuses largely on the war in Iran and also references Hegseth’s role in military actions in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela.

Massie said Hegseth’s actions amount to “high crimes and misdemeanors” and his leadership at the Pentagon “warrants impeachment,” The Mirror reported. Massie also stated: "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable."

Hegseth held his first press conference in more than six months and called the impeachment bid “sabotage,” a “farce and a stunt,” and a “political spectacle,” according to The Mirror. He said the motion gives a message to enemies that the US will “punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations."

Hegseth said he would “welcome” a trial, stating: "I'll see you there." He also said: "I stand by every single one of these operations I was proud to execute them and I would do them again."

President Donald Trump has backed Hegseth, pointing to the raid to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January as well as military operations against Iran that he asserts have “obliterated” its navy and air force, according to The Mirror and France 24. Trump told reporters Monday that the Iran war “militarily is effectively over” and repeated his often-made claim that Iran “would love to make a deal."

A vote in the House could come by midweek, but next steps are highly uncertain, according to The Mirror and France 24. 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, The Mirror reported. If the House votes to impeach, it would fall to the Senate to either dismiss the charges or hold a trial. Republicans remain in the majority in both chambers, until the new Congress convenes in January with Democrats in control, according to The Mirror.

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 Trump’s term in office,” according to The Mirror and France 24.

Sources

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