OMM Newsroom
Republican Representative Thomas Massie plans to force a vote in the US House of Representatives this week on impeaching Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging he violated the Constitution, according to the BBC.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said.
The effort is likely to fail, as Republicans will remain in control of Congress until January. Massie says he wants President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth before Democrats can begin an impeachment process.
Hegseth said on Monday he was not concerned about the move. He told reporters he would hold a press conference on Tuesday morning “on that very topic”. His last press conference was in May.
Massie, a Kentucky congressman who lost his re-election bid earlier this year, is among the few Republicans who have criticised Trump and the war in Iran, which began earlier this year. He first introduced articles of impeachment in September and is now seeking a vote after Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate in last week’s midterm elections.
Massie said his effort to remove Hegseth from the administration was intended to head off what he described as a Democratic “spectacle” next year. “My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what’s coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year,” he said in a statement, adding that Democrats “will hold hearings and trials”.
“President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate,” Massie said.
Impeachment of a cabinet secretary is rare. Both chambers of Congress must approve an impeachment for the secretary to be removed from office. The House has voted to impeach only two cabinet members in US history, and the Senate did not agree to remove either of them.
Once Massie introduces his resolution, which is expected later on Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson must schedule it for consideration within two days. The House can vote on the resolution, refer it to a committee or set it aside.
Massie is likely to receive support from House Democrats. Their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, said on Sunday that he was a “hard yes” on impeachment. Massie would still need to win support from members of his own party.
The House has passed a War Powers resolution several times this year. The measure seeks to prevent Trump from taking further military action in Iran, and Massie supported it.
Massie said his disagreements with Hegseth went beyond Iran. In his statement, he accused the defence secretary of intimidating critics of the Trump administration, kidnapping foreign leaders and ignoring congressional war powers resolutions.
