Massie introduces impeachment articles against Hegseth over Iran war

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.

Yet Massie said the thrust of his impeachment effort was an attempt to reclaim war powers authorities of Congress. He made clear he was not charging Hegseth with war crimes, although war crimes were mentioned in the impeachment articles.

 

Asked why not charge Hegseth with war crimes, Massie told Al-Monitor, “I'm trying to get something that will pass.”

The Congressman from Kentucky, who lost his primary to a Trump-backed candidate and will end his term in January, said he was unsure “if we have enough votes” to pass the House. But he urged the House’s Republican leadership not to table his impeachment effort, arguing that Democrats soon to control both houses of Congress are likely to raise new impeachment proceedings against Hegseth with support from even more Republican lawmakers once investigations are underway. 

Republican sources familiar with the effort told Al-Monitor last week that they believed Massie already had sufficient votes for the measure to pass the House. On Monday, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) posted on X that he would vote to impeach Hegseth.

No other House Republicans other have publicly affirmed they will vote for Massie’s measure.

The top Democrat in the House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), told ABC News over the weekend that his vote will be “a hard yes” for Hegseth’s impeachment. The comment marks a shift from Jeffries’ prior stated position in September, when he aligned with House Republican leadership to table Massie’s first measure to impeach the Pentagon chief.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell denied any wrongdoing by Hegseth in an emailed statement sent throughout the week.

“Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists,” Parnell’s recycled statement read Monday. “Secretary Hegseth is 100% committed to leading the department until the end of President Trump’s term in office,” he added.

Speaking to reporters in Rhode Island after addressing the Naval War College, Hegseth dismissed whether he has any concerns that some House Republicans will vote to support the impeachment proceeding, saying, “We’re not worried about that.”

He added that he will give a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning about the impeachment process.

This developing story has been updated since its initial publication.