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Republican Congressman Moves to Impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth
· Confirmed
In Short: Republican congressman Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing the war in Iran and other military actions.
Secretary Pete Hegseth official portrait (cropped).
Pete Hegseth holds briefing as impeachment drumbeat continues. CNN
Republican congressman Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, citing the war in Iran and other military actions.
Hegseth dismissed Massie's efforts, saying, 'We're not worried about that,' and called the impeachment resolution 'a political spectacle.'
The impeachment effort could attract bipartisan support, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries backing efforts to impeach Hegseth.
Massie accused Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors in an 34-page impeachment resolution with eight articles, alleging that Hegseth violated the US Constitution.
Massie specifically cited Hegseth's bombing of a school in Iran, which killed 156 civilians, and said Hegseth had 'knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders' by waging war without congressional authorization.
Hegseth said he does not believe he will be impeached and called the impeachment resolution 'a farce and a stunt.'
Law professor Peter Loge from George Washington University said the chances of Hegseth surviving until the end of Trump's term are 'pretty slim,' but he expected Hegseth to be ousted instead of impeached.
President Trump threw his support behind Hegseth, declaring he had done a 'good job' and 'won' wars in Venezuela and Iran.
If impeached, Hegseth would be the second head of the US military to face impeachment since William Belknap in 1876.
Hegseth will deliver remarks at the Naval War College, but the exact details of his speech have not been revealed.
Background
In response, Hegseth dismissed Massie as a 'disgruntled and defeated congressman,' arguing that his impeachment resolution 'is not oversight.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, citing the war in Iran and other military actions.
What's confirmed
- When asked by reporters about the impending resolution earlier on Monday, Hegseth said: "We're not worried about that."
- Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense and former Fox News host, is facing an impeachment vote in the House this week after Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) on Monday introduced a resolution that is largely tied to the war in Iran.
- Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., on Monday reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the U.S. war with Iran and other military actions ordered by President Donald Trump.
- "Didn't work against President Trump and it won't work with me," Hegseth said.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Sunday that he supports efforts to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking a significant development in the growing political pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration.
- Asked what would happen if Hegseth is impeached, Trump told reporters: "Yeah, I'll stand by him." Impeachment would be a humiliating blow for the Trump administration, but would not automatically remove Hegseth.
- A Republican lawmaker moved Monday to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, setting up a potentially explosive vote in Congress days after President Donald Trump's party suffered a crushing midterm defeat.
- Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers as Pentagon chief.
What's still developing
- He has said his push to rid the administration of Hegseth is meant to prevent a Democrat spectacle next year.
- Rep. Thomas Massie is accusing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth of attempting to stifle Sen. Mark Kelly's freedom of speech over a video in which the Democrat senator urged troops to not obey lawful orders.
- The House minority leader said Sunday on ABC's This Week that he's a "hard yes" on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of abusing his authority, mishandling the war in Iran, and driving up costs for Americans.
- “We’re not indicting him for being bad at his job,” Hegseth said in a news conference moments after reading his articles of impeachment on the House floor.
- But he told reporters Tuesday that he did not inform party leaders of his plans to introduce the articles of impeachment against Hegseth.
- Trump threw his support behind Hegseth on Monday, declaring he had done a "good job" and "won" wars in Venezuela and Iran -- referring to the lightning raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, and the unresolved eight-month conflict with Tehran. Asked what would happen if Hegseth is impeached, Trump told reporters: "Yeah, I'll stand by him."
- Defeated Republicans could skip votes, making impeachment easier to pass.
- On Monday, Hegseth called for immediate changes within the nation's military war colleges.
- In a news conference on Monday, Massie said he would welcome votes from any lawmakers who want Hegseth removed, even if they have not read the details of his bill.
- Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he's eager to litigate the military actions that he and President Donald Trump have taken against Iran, Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela's previous leaders.
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) officially filed his resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is trying to forecast to his Republican colleagues in the House that an impending vote on the matter might be a good time for them to cast some sort of public blame on someone or something for the bloodbath that was the midterms.
- A Republican lawmaker is forcing a vote on impeaching the defense secretary based on these eight charges.