Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has filed eight articles of impeachment against United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of constitutional violations and misconduct in the discharge of his duties.
Massie, who represents Kentucky, said the allegations against Hegseth included authorising military operations without congressional approval, violating laws governing armed conflicts and actions that allegedly breached international law.
The impeachment resolution also raises concerns over US military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and alleged retaliation against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.
Explaining his decision, Massie said the allegations went beyond political disagreements over the defence secretary’s performance.
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The move has exposed divisions among Republicans, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about Hegseth’s handling of military operations, particularly the administration’s strategy in Iran.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer acknowledged the concerns surrounding the defence secretary.
“There’s a lot of questions about Hegseth,” Comer said.
He added: “We have no idea what the strategy is moving forward in Iran. No one’s happy about Iran.”
However, Republican Congressman French Hill cautioned against equating dissatisfaction with an official’s performance with grounds for impeachment.
“If you don’t think he’s done a good job conducting his job, that doesn’t mean per se that he’s committed an impeachable offence,” Hill said.
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated support for the impeachment effort, while Hegseth dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
In a video posted on X, the defence secretary described the move as a partisan attempt to undermine him.
“A disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice,” Hegseth said.
President Donald Trump has also backed his defence secretary, signalling that he intends to retain him despite the growing criticism.
For Hegseth to be removed from office through impeachment, the House must first approve the articles before the senate conducts a trial. Conviction would require a two-thirds majority in the senate.
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