Hegseth Impeachment Vote Looms After Thomas Massie Files Articles

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 – A Hegseth impeachment vote is now expected in the House of Representatives this week, after Republican Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against the defense secretary on Monday.

The move starts a two-day clock. Under House rules, the vote has to take place by Wednesday.

Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Central to his case is the war with Iran. Massie argues that Hegseth launched the conflict without congressional approval, which he says violated the law.

The allegations extend beyond the war itself. Massie claims that Hegseth disregarded legal protections for civilians, citing a United States strike on a school in Minab, Iran, that reportedly killed more than 100 children.

He also argues that strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific constituted unlawful killings. In some instances, he says, crew members were left in the water without rescue.

Other articles of impeachment address the raid that led to the capture of Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro, in January, as well as the bombing campaign in Yemen. A separate article accuses Hegseth of attempting to punish Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat, for exercising his right to free speech. Kelly and five other Democrats with military or intelligence backgrounds had urged service members to refuse unlawful orders. Hegseth accused them of sedition.

This is Massie’s second attempt to advance the impeachment effort. He first introduced the articles in September, but House Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress into recess before they could be considered.

Massie now fears that party leaders may again try to avoid a vote. He told reporters that they could attempt to block the measure through a procedural motion.

“We should have a vote and a rigorous debate on these eight articles,” Massie said.

The outcome could be closely contested. Republicans will retain control of the House until Democrats assume the majority on January 3. Even so, congressional sources told Reuters that the resolution may have enough support to pass, with some Republicans expected to back it.

If the House approves the articles, the case would move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction. Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats, making a conviction unlikely.

Only one civilian leader of the military has ever been impeached: William Belknap, the Secretary of War, in 1876. Belknap resigned before the vote, but the House impeached him anyway. The Senate ultimately acquitted him.

Trump defended Hegseth on Monday, pointing to the military’s record in Iran and Venezuela: “Well, he won two wars. I don’t know how you can impeach him.”

Later, at a White House news conference, Trump said he would stand by Hegseth even if the House voted to impeach him. He described Massie as a “stone-cold loser.”

Johnson also opposes the effort. He argued that pursuing impeachment while the country is engaged in military operations abroad would send the wrong message to both allies and adversaries.

Hegseth appeared unconcerned by the challenge. When asked whether he had enough Republican support to survive, he said he was not worried. He scheduled his first Pentagon news conference since May for Tuesday.

Democrats, meanwhile, have rallied behind the effort. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker in January, said he is a firm supporter of impeachment.

“Hegseth has got to go,” Jeffries said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, who is expected to lead the Senate, said Hegseth should face trial. He argued that Hegseth waged the war in open defiance of the Constitution and several war-powers measures passed by Congress.

The war has deeply divided Republicans. Voter frustration over the conflict helped Democrats win control of both chambers in last week’s midterm elections. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other party leaders have attributed the losses to the war and its impact on household finances.

Some Republicans also worry that Hegseth’s strained relationship with Congress could complicate efforts to advance a $1.5 trillion defense spending plan.

Massie, who lost his primary this year and will leave office in January, argued that impeachment would be a relatively mild response compared with what Democrats may pursue. He said they are likely to hold hearings and trials. He urged Trump to replace Hegseth now, while the Senate can still confirm a successor.

Democrats have also pledged to investigate Hegseth’s dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior military officers.