Massie Reintroduces Impeachment Bid Against Hegseth

Rep. Thomas Massie has reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing the House of Representatives to vote on the matter within the next two days.

The resolution outlines eight specific charges against the Secretary, accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanors. Three of the charges cite violations of the War Powers Resolution regarding military actions in Iran. Two additional charges address the war in Yemen. One charge alleges that Hegseth ignored laws intended to minimize civilian casualties. Another cites the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization.

One charge focuses on the suppression of free speech, linking it to the administration's effort to punish Sen. Mark Kelly for a video in which he told service members they could refuse illegal orders. The final charge accuses Hegseth of overseeing extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean through strikes on alleged drug boats.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to the move in a video released on Thursday. He described the effort as sham articles of impeachment and referenced his previous experience in the role. "Didn't work against President Trump and it won't work with me," Hegseth said.

President Donald Trump voiced support for his Defense Secretary during an impromptu press briefing on Monday. "I'll stand by him," Trump said. "He won two wars. He was in charge. We all won."

Massie has been a vocal critic of Hegseth since the 2024 primary, when Hegseth campaigned for Ed Gallrein, who defeated Massie. Massie addressed Hegseth's recent characterization of him as a disgruntled defeated congressman on Monday. "Well, he's right about one thing. I'm a defeated congressman. I'm not disgruntled," Massie told reporters.

The representative framed the impeachment as a mechanism to remove an official, comparing it to firing someone. "You don't go to prison, you don't go to jail, you don't pay a fine," Massie said. He added that the effort serves to litigate the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress, noting that the War Powers Resolution has largely been ignored by presidents of both parties.

Massie previously attempted to bring the resolution to the floor before the midterm elections. Speaker Mike Johnson called an early recess to avoid the vote, which caused the original resolution to expire. Massie reintroduced the text on Monday. Presumptive next Speaker Hakeem Jeffries has signaled support for an impeachment push against Hegseth.

Some Republican members who oppose the move argue that the administration should do a better job explaining its plans for the Iran conflict to Congress and the public. Rep. Warren Davidson suggested that using the power of the purse to withhold funding for the conflict would be a more effective tool than impeachment. "I think trying to scapegoat Pete Hegseth is just the status quo politics in Washington," Davidson said. "I think it would be a mistake to impeach."

The House may have sufficient votes to impeach Hegseth, potentially with support from all Democrats, Massie, and a small number of Republicans. Conviction in the Senate, however, requires a two-thirds majority, a threshold that analysts deem unlikely to be met.