Massie launches new bid to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has renewed his campaign to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office. On Monday, the lawmaker introduced a formal resolution containing eight articles of impeachment. These documents accuse the defense secretary of violating the United States Constitution and engaging in an unauthorized war against Iran.

In a statement released alongside the resolution, Massie alleged that Hegseth oversaw military operations in Iran for a period exceeding 90 days without obtaining proper authorization from Congress. The Representative declared that the defense secretary is breaking the law and must be held accountable for his actions.

The specific charges in the impeachment articles extend beyond the conflict with Iran. They also allege that Hegseth violated congressional war powers and disregarded laws designed to minimize civilian casualties. Additionally, the articles accuse the secretary of conducting unlawful military operations in both Yemen and Venezuela, as well as retaliating against political critics.

Massie urged President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth immediately. The Representative argued that the president should act now to ensure that a successor can still be confirmed by the Senate. This timing is critical as the political landscape shifts following recent elections.

The Kentucky lawmaker also issued a warning regarding the future political climate. He noted that the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress is expected to pursue more aggressive investigations and impeachment proceedings against Hegseth. Massie’s move is anticipated to force a vote in the House of Representatives in the coming days.

This effort revives an impeachment campaign that Massie initially introduced in September. That previous attempt had been delayed just before the midterm elections. The new filing brings the issue back to the forefront of legislative debate.

President Trump has consistently defended his defense secretary. The president has credited Hegseth with the administration’s successful military campaigns in both Iran and Venezuela. This public support highlights the internal political dynamics within the Republican party.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on the matter following Massie’s announcement. When asked about Hegseth’s performance at the Department of Defense, Rubio stated that he believes the defense secretary has done an excellent job. The two officials have worked closely together on various policy issues.

Rubio elaborated on his assessment, noting that he has worked with Hegseth every single day on many of these topics. He said he has witnessed the work Hegseth does and the professionalism he brings to the role. Rubio described his colleague as very smart and hardworking, noting that Hegseth puts a lot of hours into the job.

The Secretary of State concluded that all the policy issues they have worked on together demonstrate that Hegseth has performed very well. These comments provide a high-level defense of the defense secretary from a key member of the administration's foreign policy team.