Massie Forces Impeachment Vote Against Hegseth Over Iran War

Outgoing GOP Rep. Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing a House vote by Thursday.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved on the House floor Tuesday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, reading a 34-page resolution with eight articles of impeachment aloud for more than an hour just after the chamber convened at noon. The resolution is privileged, meaning the House must take it up within two legislative days — by Thursday, before the chamber leaves for an extended recess that lasts until after the November midterms. Massie said he told no one in party leadership in advance. According to NPR, Massie alleges Hegseth initiated the Iran conflict unlawfully, defied Congress' order to withdraw, and incurred unnecessary civilian casualties.

This would make Massie the first member of Congress to try to impeach a Cabinet member of the same party, a stunning act of intraparty warfare that CNN reports blindsided his own colleagues and infuriated leaders who were not warned. The surprise landed hours before a politically awkward Democratic-pushed impeachment vote against President Trump, giving Democrats an unexpected counterpunch. According to CNN, one Democratic aide quipped, "Just when you think Al Green screws us, Massie turns around and gives it right back to the Rs." Massie said he withheld notice because leadership previously canceled two weeks of Congress after his Epstein discharge petition, and he feared they would cancel more days.

The resolution alleges Hegseth engaged in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization and ignored a June war powers resolution approved by both chambers. According to The Guardian, it also cites a US strike on a school in Minab, Iran that killed more than 168 people, and "extrajudicial killings" of at least 221 people on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Further articles allege retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly for protected speech, the unauthorized capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and an unauthorized Yemen bombing campaign. The Pentagon, through press secretary Kingsley Wilson, called Hegseth a "transformative leader" and did not directly address the allegations.

With Republicans defending narrow House and Senate majorities on November 3, leaders must either hold a vote putting members on the record on Hegseth or maneuver to avoid one. According to CNBC, polls show the Iran war, which began February 28, is unpopular with voters, has disrupted oil shipments, pushed fuel prices near record highs, and coincided with declining Trump approval. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday showed Democrats leading Republicans 44% to 37% in congressional vote preference. The Pentagon dismissed the effort, with Wilson stating the department is "unified behind the Secretary's vision," and Attorney General Todd Blanche said Hegseth "follows the law."

Unless GOP leaders change the floor schedule, the House must vote on the resolution by Thursday, though leaders could offer a motion to table it or cancel Thursday's session to avoid the roll call, according to ABC News. Republicans in theory have enough votes to defeat the proposal, per NPR. Even if it passed, conviction in the Republican-controlled Senate would require a two-thirds majority.