Rep. Thomas Massie moved on Monday to force a House vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting up a showdown that could reach the floor as early as Wednesday.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican, read out eight articles of impeachment on the House floor and filed them as a privileged resolution. House leaders now have two legislative days to act: they can hold a vote on the articles, move to table them, or send them to committee.
The articles accuse Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional approval, including three alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. They also cover lethal strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, military action in Yemen, and the use of a Pentagon investigation against Sen. Mark Kelly, according to USA Today.
Massie first filed the same articles in September. The House went home early before a vote, and the measure expired. Monday’s filing restarts the clock in the lame-duck session, one week after Republicans suffered heavy midterm losses that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have blamed on the Iran war and rising fuel prices.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday he will support impeachment. House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes the effort and has warned against impeaching the defence secretary while US forces are engaged in hostilities abroad.
Hegseth has called a rare news conference for Tuesday morning, his first time taking questions from the Pentagon briefing room since May. He has defended the Iran war and the boat strikes as lawful uses of his authority.
Impeachment needs only a simple majority in the House. Removal would then need a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which is widely seen as unlikely. If the House did impeach Hegseth, he would be the first Pentagon chief impeached in 150 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The articles are allegations in a charging document filed by one member of Congress. They are findings by no court or inspector general.
Source: USA Today
