Republican Lawmaker Files Articles of Impeachment Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
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Rep. Thomas Massie introduced impeachment articles targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, prompting mixed reactions from officials and predictions of a House vote by Wednesday.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor, alleging the secretary abused his authority during the Iran conflict and issued unlawful orders to start war. The filing sets a timetable for a House vote that could occur as early as Wednesday.
Secretary of State Marcio Rubio, speaking at a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Paris, defended Hegseth, saying he has seen the secretary’s work firsthand and described his performance as "great" and professional. Rubio added that he works with Hegseth daily and believes the media does not fully capture his contributions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that impeaching a cabinet secretary amid ongoing hostilities would present a "terrible look" and suggested the move is driven by political motives rather than substantive misconduct.
President Donald Trump publicly backed Hegseth, pledging his full support for the defense secretary.
Prediction markets tracked the impeachment effort, with Kalshi traders estimating a 71% chance of impeachment by the end of the next week and total trading volume exceeding $7.5 million.
Other political developments mentioned include the projected defeat of Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 4th District, Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s call for the GOP to internalize the midterm loss, and ongoing discussions among incoming Democratic members about supporting Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.