Rep Thomas Massie Introduces Impeachment Resolution Against Pete Hegseth
Defense Secretary Impeachment Resolution Introduced
Outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the House of Representatives, setting up a fast-tracked legislative clash amid fallout from the administration’s military campaign in Iran.
The impeachment move follows a sweeping midterm defeat for Republicans driven by voter anger over soaring fuel prices and the war.
Massie used a special House procedure requiring the chamber to consider his resolution within two legislative days. On the House floor, Massie stated that Hegseth had “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” by waging war without congressional approval. The Guardian noted that the Kentucky congressman first filed impeachment articles against Hegseth on September 15, before House Speaker Mike Johnson called a congressional recess.
The resolution accuses Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution, alongside misconduct involving civilian casualties. Additional coverage details that the charges also cite unauthorized strikes in Yemen, extrajudicial killings of suspected drug boat crews in the Caribbean, and an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly.
The House of Representatives is barreling toward a vote on whether to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has vowed to address the effort during a rare press conference on Tuesday morning. W @Kubota_Yoko https://t.co/3WwSBPeZs0
Jeffries Supports Impeachment While Trump Defends Hegseth
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries told ABC News on Monday that he was a “hard yes” on the impeachment vote. Jeffries described Hegseth as having “abused his power, undermined our national security and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran.”
President Donald Trump dismissed Massie as a “stone cold loser” and offered his strongest endorsement yet of the defense secretary. Trump defended the administration’s military record, asking reporters, “What has Hegseth done? He won the war.”
Hegseth called the impeachment effort a “sham” and dismissed Massie as a “disgruntled” congressman. In a short video released on Thursday, Hegseth insisted that the threat is “all about the politics of personal destruction.” Government watchdogs Common Cause and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argued that the video violated the Hatch Act by using government funds for partisan purposes, as reported by The Guardian.
Senate Requires Two-Thirds Majority for Removal
While the House can pass impeachment charges with a simple majority, removing a Cabinet secretary requires a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate after a trial. Democrats will take control of both congressional chambers in January following their midterm sweep, but will still need substantial Republican support to reach the two-thirds threshold for conviction.
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie: "I think there's two categories of Republicans after Nov. 3rd who are more likely to vote to impeach Pete Hegseth. One, I call it the retirement caucus. These aren't people who joined voluntarily. And the ranks of this caucus swelled for Republicans on… pic.twitter.com/sFrlyIUdoX”
Only two Cabinet secretaries have been impeached in US history, and neither was removed by the Senate. Defeated Republicans could skip upcoming votes before the new Congress is seated on January 3, potentially making impeachment easier to pass. The Pentagon has scheduled a rare press briefing with Hegseth for Wednesday.
More on Pete Hegseth
When a senior Cabinet official releases a video message vowing to fight for his job, you know he’s about to lose his job. For Pete Hegseth, it may be a matter of days. Let's hope so. https://t.co/EHiHemOVfY pic.twitter.com/OcQc59OlyQ