Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war
House Democrats are on board with voting to impeach the Pentagon chief, but it's not clear how many Republicans will break with the White House's public messaging.
WASHINGTON — Outgoing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, teeing up a direct challenge to the Trump administration’s top Pentagon official amid political fallout over the US war against Iran.
In addition to three alleged violations of the 1973 War Powers Act, the articles introduced by Massie include allegations of “extrajudicial killings” via US special operations strikes on boats in the Caribbean; “ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties” amid the US war against Iran; and “kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader,” namely, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.
Massie introduced eight articles, each of which must be voted on individually. A floor vote on the articles is expected as soon as Wednesday.
In a press conference at the House triangle, Massie said, “Pete Hegseth is obligated to follow the laws on the books, not the laws that he wants to follow.” He repeatedly mentioned the US Navy’s cruise missile bombing of a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of the war on Feb. 28. At least 156 people, including 120 children, were killed in that attack, according to local authorities.
