Republican Lawmaker Files Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth Over Iran War
Rep. Thomas Massie filed privileged impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war, forcing a possible House vote.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, accusing him of abusing his office by conducting hostilities against Iran without congressional authorization.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican and a longtime critic of the Iran war and of US support for Israel, introduced the articles as privileged. Under House rules, a privileged resolution must be taken up within two legislative days, meaning the chamber could be forced into a vote.
The effort is not expected to remove Hegseth, given that Republicans control both the House and the Senate. But it could compel lawmakers to go on record on both the defense secretary and the conflict at a politically sensitive moment, with the November midterm elections approaching.
The Pentagon pushed back on the accusations, saying the department remains united behind Hegseth. "The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary's vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first," Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in an emailed statement.
Massie has repeatedly opposed President Donald Trump's military campaign against Iran, which began after US and Israeli attacks on February 28. Members of Congress, mainly Democrats, have repeatedly backed resolutions seeking to require congressional authorization for continued US military action, though those efforts have not halted the hostilities.
The impeachment push comes as Massie prepares to leave Congress. He is not seeking re-election after losing his Republican primary in May to Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL backed by Trump and heavily supported by pro-Israel groups. Massie had drawn Trump's ire after leading a push to release Justice Department files connected to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The war has become a political liability for Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterms. Opinion polls indicate the conflict is unpopular with voters, while disruptions to oil shipments have driven fuel prices higher and added pressure on US households. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday showed Democrats leading Republicans 44% to 37% in voters' preference for control of Congress, and Trump's approval ratings have declined since the war began.