US congressman files resolution to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth

Massie introduced the articles of impeachment as soon as the House opened for its first session after the midterm elections. The Kentucky lawmaker accused Hegseth of carrying out unlawful orders and posing a threat to the Constitution, specifically citing the defense secretary's role in the war on Iran and strikes on purported drug boats.

Democratic Party leaders have pledged to investigate Trump's administration in Congress following their landslide victories in both chambers during the midterm elections. Massie had first raised these impeachment articles in September, but Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson avoided a vote at the time by sending lawmakers home early.

Defiant Response

Hegseth remained defiant, saying he welcomes the opportunity to defend his actions in Congress. There's a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success, Hegseth told reporters on Monday. If we want to litigate the military actions that the Trump administration has taken, I'm happy to do it all day long. He is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday.

Specific Allegations

Massie's resolution alleges that Hegseth violated the Constitution by helping carry out the war on Iran without congressional authorization, as mandated by the War Powers Resolution. The resolution claims Hegseth cultivated a warmaking culture dismissive of rules of engagement that caused civilian harm, citing the US bombing of a school in Minab, Iran, which killed more than 150 people, including about 120 children.

Other charges include allegations that US strikes on alleged narcotics boats in the Caribbean and Pacific ignored mandatory safeguards and amounted to extrajudicial killings. The resolution also accuses Hegseth of involvement in the abduction of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, suppressing free speech by restricting media access to the Pentagon, and carrying out an unlawful war in Yemen against the Houthis.

Political Landscape

Massie has been a frequent critic of Trump's administration, particularly the Iran war. His outspoken nature has previously drawn anger from Trump, who backed a rival Republican candidate who defeated Massie in the primary elections earlier this year. A majority of the 435-member House would need to vote in favor of Hegseth's impeachment, followed by two-thirds of the Senate's 100 lawmakers to remove him.

While the measure is unlikely to succeed in the current Republican-led Congress, pressure is likely to mount when new Democratic lawmakers take control in January. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, expected to become speaker, said he supported Hegseth's impeachment, calling the defense secretary's actions reckless and costly. However, Democrats are expected to have about 54 Senate seats, short of the 67 votes needed to convict.

Johnson criticized the impeachment attempt as political gain or for cheap tricks. Trump defended Hegseth, saying He's guilty of two things, basically winning two wars, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Iran war necessary despite acknowledging it was not necessarily popular. Trump administration officials have acknowledged the deep unpopularity of the Iran war, which some admit likely cost Republicans the midterm elections.