Eight Articles: Massie Files New Impeachment Bid Against Hegseth

Nine days ago, the clock on the latest move to remove Pete Hegseth from his post began ticking with the introduction of eight formal articles of impeachment. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed the documents on Monday, marking the second attempt this year to force a House vote on the defense secretary’s removal.

The new resolution centers on the military engagement with Iran. Massie alleges that Hegseth oversaw operations in the country for a period exceeding 90 days without securing the proper authorization from Congress. The Kentucky lawmaker claims this timeline violates the United States Constitution and constitutes an unauthorized war.

The charges extend beyond the conflict in the Middle East. The articles also assert that Hegseth disregarded laws intended to minimize civilian casualties and violated congressional war powers. Furthermore, the documents accuse the secretary of conducting unlawful military actions in Yemen and Venezuela, as well as retaliating against political critics.

Massie is urging President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth immediately. The representative argues that the president should act now to ensure a successor can still be confirmed by the Senate before the political dynamics shift after the recent elections. Massie warned that the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress is expected to pursue more aggressive investigations and impeachment proceedings against the defense secretary.

This filing revives a campaign Massie initially introduced in September. That previous attempt was delayed just before the midterm elections, but the new resolution brings the issue back to the center of legislative debate. A House vote is anticipated in the coming days.

President Trump has consistently defended Hegseth, crediting him with the administration’s successful military campaigns in Iran and Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in following the announcement. Rubio stated that he believes Hegseth has done an excellent job, noting that he has worked with the defense secretary every single day on many policy topics.

Rubio described his colleague as very smart and hardworking, saying he has witnessed the professionalism Hegseth brings to the role. The secretary of state concluded that the policy issues they have handled together demonstrate that Hegseth has performed very well.