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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing the prospect of an impeachment vote in Congress over the Trump administration’s war against Iran and allegations of abuse of power, AnewZ reports.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, November 9, raising the possibility of a House vote within two days.
The charges include waging war against Iran without congressional authorization and violating the free-speech rights of Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Massie said Republican leaders could use procedural maneuvers to block a vote. “There should be a vote and serious debate on these eight articles of impeachment,” he told reporters.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the effort. He warned that impeaching Hegseth while military operations are ongoing could send a damaging message to U.S. allies and adversaries.
Trump expresses support for Hegseth
U.S. President Donald Trump has firmly defended the defense secretary and rejected calls for his removal. “He’s won two wars. I don’t know how you can impeach him,” Trump said on Monday, referring to U.S. military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
Trump later pledged to support Hegseth even if the House votes to impeach him, and called Massie “a total loser.”
Hegseth also dismissed the threat of impeachment. “We’re not worried about it,” he said on Monday.
In a video address released last week, Hegseth compared the impeachment effort to the two proceedings against Trump. “It didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work against me,” he said.
Historical precedent for impeachment effort
The effort has been compared with the case of William Belknap, the U.S. secretary of war in the 19th century. Belknap is the only Cabinet member in U.S. history to have been impeached.
In 1876, the House impeached Belknap over allegations that he had accepted payments in exchange for government contracts. Although he resigned shortly before the vote, lawmakers continued the impeachment proceedings. The Senate later failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to convict him and acquitted Belknap.
The impeachment effort comes as political divisions over the Iran war deepen and the conflict has influenced Democrats’ victory in last week’s midterm elections.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has voiced support for the impeachment effort. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Hegseth to face trial.
Massie said Hegseth could face further investigations after Democrats take control of the House in January. Democrats have also pledged to investigate the dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior military commanders.
Hegseth’s removal from office is still considered unlikely. Conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority, while Republicans currently hold 53 of the chamber’s 100 seats.
