Massie pushes eight counts to impeach Pete Hegseth

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has introduced an eight-count resolution to initiate an impeachment trial against Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense. The Kentucky lawmaker maintains that the official violated the Constitution and federal rules by directing military operations without authorization from Congress. The initiative forces the House of Representatives to take up the matter in the coming days and could come to a vote this week.

The first three counts relate to the military campaign against Iran. Massie claims that Hegseth engaged in hostilities without a formal declaration of war or legislative permission, and that he kept operations beyond the limits set by the 1973 War Powers Resolution. He also questions the handling of civilian casualties and cites an attack on an Iranian school. The congressman argues that the executive branch could not replace constitutional oversight by Congress.

Other allegations include U.S. actions against vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and other areas of the Americas. The resolution accuses the Pentagon of using lethal force instead of police procedures and puts the death toll at at least 243. It also questions the operation in Venezuela that ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, as well as the beginning of attacks against the Houthis in Yemen, which Massie considers lacking legal authorization.

An additional charge attributes Hegseth with retaliation against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, who had questioned military orders that he considered illegal. According to the resolution, the secretary would have used his authority to intimidate the legislator and limit his freedom of expression. The set of accusations raises, according to Massie, questions about the legality of military decisions and the use of Pentagon powers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, rejected the proposal and asked his fellow Republicans not to support it. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, on the other hand, backed Hegseth leaving office. To move forward, the resolution needs Republican votes in addition to Democratic backing. If the House approves impeachment, the procedure will go to the Senate, which would have to decide on an eventual impeachment. Massie had already introduced a similar initiative in September, but there was no vote then.

Hegseth denied the accusations and attributed them to political motivations. He defended operations in Iran, Yemen and Venezuela and said that questioning them is to cast doubt on the work of the troops. Trump also backed his secretary and highlighted the results of military campaigns. The debate reignites disagreements in Washington over the limits of presidential power to launch armed operations and the role of Congress in overseeing them.