WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces a forced House vote on eight articles of impeachment filed Monday by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who said in a statement that Hegseth waged war in Iran without congressional authorization.
Massie sits on the House Judiciary Committee. Three of his charges rest on the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which he says Hegseth is violating in the Iran war. The remaining charges, he said, reach beyond Iran to civilian casualties, strikes on suspected drug traffickers at sea, free speech, Venezuela and Yemen.
“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,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “Secretary Hegseth’s constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran. He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech. If we are to remain true to our oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States,’ the House of Representatives must act.”
“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,” Rep. Massie continued. “They will hold hearings and trials. President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate.”
The filing follows public backing from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said Sunday he is a “hard yes” on impeaching Hegseth.
The Eight Charges
Massie summarized the charges as follows, and his office posted the full text of the charges. Each charge below is Massie’s allegation, as summarized in his release.
The first article is brought under Section 2(c) of the War Powers Resolution. Massie charges that Hegseth waged war in Iran with no declaration of war behind him, no statute authorizing it, no attack on the United States and no imminent threat — and that the war was therefore unlawful from the day it began.
Article II cites Section 5(c). Through H. Con. Res. 86, the charge says, both houses of Congress directed that U.S. forces be removed — and Hegseth refused, keeping the war going against that express direction.
Article III, under Section 5(b), charges that he continued hostilities after the resolution’s 60-day termination period and any 30-day withdrawal period expired, treating mandatory statutory deadlines as discretionary.
Article IV charges Hegseth with ignoring laws that minimize civilian casualties.
Article V charges him with extrajudicial killings, saying he replaced maritime law enforcement with unauthorized lethal military targeting of suspected drug traffickers, resulting in at least 243 deaths. The charge also cites denial of quarter, secondary strikes on survivors, failure to rescue shipwrecked people and the creation of artificial legal authorities for the campaign.
Article VI charges that Hegseth used Defense Department authority to retaliate against Sen. Mark Kelly and intimidate him for constitutionally protected speech questioning unlawful military orders.
Article VII charges Hegseth with kidnapping a sovereign foreign leader, saying he directed Operation ABSOLUTE RESOLVE to seize Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in Venezuela without constitutional or legal authority.
Article VIII charges that he launched an unlawful war in Yemen, initiating Operation ROUGH RIDER without congressional authorization or an imminent threat and violating war powers reporting requirements.
Under the release, Massie’s action will force the House to vote on the eight charges. The release included no response from Hegseth or the Defense Department.
Have something to promote?
Bring your business, services or event to our readers.