Republican Lawmaker Moves to Impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Over U.S. War Escalations
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Rep. Thomas Massie has filed impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran conflict and related military operations, setting up a possible House vote this week amid mounting outrage over the administration’s aggressive foreign policy.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the first day of the new House session. The resolution points to the war in Iran and cites Hegseth’s role in operations in Yemen and Venezuela, accusing the secretary of conduct amounting to “high crimes and misdemeanors” in service of an increasingly reckless military agenda.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that impeaching a cabinet secretary amid ongoing overseas hostilities could damage the United States’ standing with allies and adversaries. > “Impeaching a Cabinet secretary right now, especially the Department of War in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that,” Johnson said.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that Democrats would support impeachment, saying it is time for the defense secretary to go. If the House votes to impeach, the matter would move to the Senate for a trial. Republicans retain a majority in both chambers until the new Congress convenes in January, when Democrats are expected to control the House.
Hegseth defended the military actions taken under President Donald Trump, referencing operations code-named “Epic Fury” and “Rough Rider.” > “If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you’re taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic,” he told reporters.
He announced a news conference for Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days, to address the impeachment effort. Hegseth also said he is prepared to defend the legality of the Iran, Yemen and Venezuela actions in court.
President Donald Trump praised Hegseth, stating that the secretary “won two wars” and helped “save the Middle East and Israel combined.”
A recent Associated Press poll found that about six in ten voters believed the United States made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran. The impeachment push reflects growing congressional criticism of the Iran conflict, which Republican leaders have linked to their losses in the recent midterm elections.