WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on Monday reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the U.S. war with Iran, saying the former Fox News host violated the Constitution with his actions.
As a result, House leadership will have to bring the impeachment articles to a floor vote within two working days. Republicans could also move to kill the resolution, which would require a majority vote.
Massie brought eight charges against Hegseth, accusing him of “waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat.”
The Republican said Hegseth “has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as secretary of defense,” Massie said as he read the articles on the House floor, adding that Hegseth “has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law.”
The first article charges Secretary Hegseth with “waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat,” according to Massie.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution mandates that the president promptly inform the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tempore within two days whenever the military is deployed without a declared war. Additionally, the law stipulates that the president must cease the use of armed forces within 60 days if he employs military forces without prior notification to Congress.
Massie’s articles of impeachment also include charges related to alleged “extrajudicial killings”, specifically the strikes on alleged drug boats. Additionally, there are charges of “kidnapping a sovereign foreign leader”, which refers to the U.S. capturing then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Furthermore, there are charges of “unlawful war” in Yemen.
Hegseth said Monday that he will hold a press conference Tuesday morning to address efforts to impeach him.
“We’re going to do a press conference tomorrow at the Pentagon on that very topic,” he told reporters. “So I’ll save my remarks there. I hope you’ll all come loaded for bear with your questions.”
