Massie filed eight impeachment articles against Hegseth over the Iran war. A House vote could come this week.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor Monday, setting up a possible vote as soon as Wednesday. Massie filed the measure as privileged under House rules, which forces Republican leaders to schedule a floor vote within two legislative days. A simple majority is needed, meaning three Republicans would need to join all Democrats.
The first article accuses Hegseth of waging the Iran war without a declaration of war, statutory authorization or an imminent threat. Three of the eight articles cite violations of Congress’s war powers. Others cite Pentagon boat strikes in the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the Pentagon’s scrutiny of a senator. If impeached, Hegseth would be the third Cabinet secretary in history to face that fate, CBS News reported.
Massie lost his May primary and leaves Congress in January. He first tried to impeach Hegseth in September, when House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early to avoid a vote. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called himself a “hard yes.” House Oversight Chairman James Comer declined to back the effort. Several Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, have blamed the Iran war for the party’s midterm losses.
Hegseth said Monday he is not worried and announced a rare news conference at the Pentagon for Tuesday morning. President Donald Trump has said he intends to keep Hegseth and would stand by him even if he is impeached.
This report draws on ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNBC, Axios and Newsweek.