Pete Hegseth Faces Impeachment Vote Over Iran, Boat Strikes
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has reintroduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting up House action within two legislative days. The charges include unauthorized warfare, unlawful killings and retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces impeachment after Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky reintroduced eight articles against him in the House of Representatives, setting up House action within two legislative days.
Massie's resolution alleges unauthorized warfare, unlawful killings and retaliation against a political critic.
What the articles allege
The resolution accuses Hegseth of replacing maritime law enforcement with unauthorized lethal attacks on suspected drug traffickers. It also says he ignored laws meant to minimize civilian casualties.
It further alleges he retaliated against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over speech questioning unlawful military orders.
Three articles concern alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution involving Iran. They cite initiating unauthorized hostilities, continuing operations despite congressional direction to withdraw, and exceeding statutory deadlines. Other charges address military operations in Yemen and the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Massie first pursued impeachment in September. House Speaker Mike Johnson's early recess prevented a vote before the midterms, and the new filing revives the effort.
Hegseth's response
Hegseth dismissed the effort in a roughly six-minute video, saying anyone seeking his removal would fail. He called the articles "sham articles of impeachment" from "a disgruntled, defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies," and compared them to the two attempts against President Donald Trump.
Massie lost his primary to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, for whom Hegseth campaigned.
In the video, Hegseth described the Iran war as "a courageous and historic effort that will ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon." He asked Congress for a reconciliation bill providing at least $350 billion.
"We need every vote from every patriotic member of Congress," he said.
He also said, "We ended the weird and the woke and elevated patriots and strength," and defended lethal force against drug boats: "Narco terrorists should die, not be caught and released."
Hegseth said transgender people were unfit to serve and called being trans "a mental illness incompatible with military service." The American Psychiatric Association says being transgender is not a psychiatric diagnosis.
Scrutiny expected in January
Even if Hegseth survives the impeachment effort, another confrontation awaits when the next Congress convenes. Rep. Robert Garcia, the California Democrat poised to lead the House Oversight Committee, said the administration's treatment of transgender people, including the military ban, would draw scrutiny.
Hegseth's video statements could become part of the record lawmakers examine. Garcia is set to take the committee's gavel in January.
