GOP lawmaker introduces articles of impeachment against Hegseth

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Monday, the first day of the U.S. House session after the midterm elections.

Massie mentioned Hegseth’s role in military actions in Venezuela and Yemen, but the main focus of the impeachment resolution is Hegseth’s handling of the war with Iran.

“We’re not indicting him for being bad at his job. In fact, he was very effective at killing school children in Iran. He was very effective at extrajudicial killings,” Massie said during a press conference outside the Capitol building. “There’s no argument in these impeachment articles that he’s ineffective. The argument here is that he’s broken laws and he’s violated the Constitution.”

Massie previously attempted to impeach Hegseth in September. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early to avoid the vote.

Johnson could do something similar this week, but Massie is pushing for Johnson to bring the resolution to the floor.

“We’re still in the majority,” he said. “They can still do the right thing.”

If there is a vote on the resolution, Democrats would likely support it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he is a “hard yes.”

“Pete Hegseth has abused his power, undermined America’s national security, and he’s the architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran,” Jeffries said Monday.

Massie, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, was defeated in May by Trump-endorsed primary challenger Ed Gallrein.

Trump responded to the impeachment call during an impromptu press briefing at the White House Monday. He said he would stand by Hegseth and called on Congress to do the same.

“Massie is a loser,” Trump told reporters. “He shouldn’t be taking up the time of Congress or the Senate or anything that he’s doing. The guy’s a stone-cold loser.”

Hegseth will likely respond Tuesday morning, when he’s scheduled to hold a press briefing at the Pentagon. It will be his first in more than 180 days.