Massie Pushes Impeachment of Hegseth Before GOP Loses Control
Rep. Thomas Massie introduces impeachment articles against War Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing constitutional violations and military misconduct.
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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, seeking action from the House of Representatives during the final weeks of Republican control of Congress. The move, introduced as a privileged resolution, requires House leaders to bring the measure up for a vote within two legislative days.
Accusations of Constitutional Violations
Massie’s resolution accuses Hegseth of committing ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ through his handling of the Iran war, military operations in Yemen and the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and the Pentagon’s scrutiny of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). The Kentucky Republican introduced the articles as a privileged resolution, requiring House leaders to bring the measure up for action within two legislative days.
The effort is a revival of a previous attempt launched in September, when Massie accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and violating the Constitution through military operations ordered by President Donald Trump. House Republican leaders adjourned before the chamber could vote, delaying the confrontation until after the midterm elections.
Massie’s Final Stand
Massie, who lost his primary earlier this year to Trump-backed challenger and eventual general election winner Ed Gallrein, is leaving Congress in January. His impeachment effort represents one of his final major confrontations with an administration he has repeatedly challenged.
Three of the articles focus on the Iran war, accusing Hegseth of waging military operations without congressional authorization, defying congressional directives, and continuing hostilities in violation of the War Powers Resolution. Another accuses him of failing to take sufficient steps to minimize civilian casualties, citing a strike on an Iranian school.
Support and Opposition
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Sunday that he is a ‘hard yes’ on the measure. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is retiring, said he was still wrestling with how to vote. Bacon criticized Hegseth’s decision to remove or sideline dozens of senior military officers, but said he did not believe poor performance alone justified impeachment.
Hegseth has dismissed the impeachment push as political theater. In a video posted last week, he called the articles a ‘sham’ brought by a ‘disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democratic allies.’ He said he planned to hold a news conference Tuesday to address the impeachment push.
Trump has also expressed confidence in his Secretary of War, telling reporters last week that Hegseth was doing ‘a very good job.’ If the House approves the articles, Hegseth would become only the third Cabinet secretary in American history to be impeached.
Source: Daily Wire
