Hegseth Faces Impeachment Articles as House Vote Looms
Rep. Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against the Defense Secretary, citing violations of war powers and free speech during his tenure.
By Marta Gray ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces formal impeachment articles in the House, with a vote expected by midweek. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced the resolution on Monday, charging Hegseth with high crimes and misdemeanors related to military operations in Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen. The move comes as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress following last Tuesday’s election, though the current Republican-led House will handle the initial vote.
The resolution outlines eight specific allegations against the Secretary. First, it claims Hegseth violated the 1973 War Powers Resolution by starting hostilities in Iran without congressional authorization. The articles state that U.S. forces remained in the region beyond the 60-day limit and a potential 30-day extension. Second, the text accuses Hegseth of ignoring laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, specifically referencing an attack on an elementary school that killed more than 200 civilians. Third, it describes strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific that killed 243 people as extrajudicial killings.
Additional articles address domestic political actions. One alleges Hegseth suppressed free speech by retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly after the senator told service members they could refuse illegal orders. Hegseth reportedly suggested Kelly could be recalled to active duty and directed a Navy investigation. Another article characterizes the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a kidnapping, stating Hegseth executed unlawful orders. The final article claims the U.S. attack in Yemen, known as Operation Rough Rider, violated the War Powers Resolution.
Hegseth has dismissed the effort as political noise. In a statement to reporters, he said, “There’s a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success.” He added that he told troops to ignore the noise and that he would welcome the chance to litigate the administration’s military actions. President Donald Trump also defended his cabinet member, calling Massie a stone-cold loser with a lot of hatred in his heart.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has attempted to block the vote. He cautioned members against removing a Cabinet secretary for political gain while the U.S. remains engaged in military activities. Johnson stated, “We don’t impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks, and I think that’s what this is and I think everybody knows it.”
If the House votes to impeach, the case would move to the Senate for a trial. The Senate remains under Republican control until the current term ends in January. Democrats have pledged their own investigations into Hegseth’s leadership, focusing on the removal of top military officials and his Ukraine policy. Hegseth indicated he plans to lead the Department of Defense until the end of Trump’s presidency in 2029.
The impeachment effort gained momentum after the recent election, which returned the Democratic Party to power. Massie’s resolution is currently pending in the House, where most Democrats have expressed support for the measure.
