A Republican politician has moved to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, setting up a potentially explosive vote in Congress just days after President Donald Trump’s party suffered a crushing midterm defeat.
Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Mr Hegseth of illegally waging war without congressional authorisation and abusing his powers as Pentagon chief.
The Republican-controlled House could vote as early as Wednesday, with some politicians from Mr Trump’s party signalling that they might join Democrats in supporting the charges.
Impeachment would be a humiliating blow for Mr Hegseth and the Trump administration, but would not automatically remove him from office.
That would require a trial and conviction by a two-thirds majority in the Senate — a far higher hurdle, even after Democrats take control of the chamber in January.
The impeachment push has gathered momentum since Tuesday’s midterm elections, when Democrats swept both chambers of Congress amid widespread anger over the Iran war and soaring fuel prices.
Republicans retain control of Congress until the newly elected politicians take office on 3 January, but their overwhelming defeat has fuelled recriminations and weakened party discipline.
Some Republicans who lost their seats could also skip votes, potentially making it easier for the impeachment measure to pass.
‘Hard yes’
Republican Thomas Massie introduced the articles of impeachment against Pete Hegsth
Mr Massie, an outspoken critic of Mr Trump who lost his own primary to a candidate backed by the president, is using a special congressional procedure to force the House to consider his resolution within two legislative days.
Republican leaders could still seek to block the measure through a procedural vote.
The articles accuse Mr Hegseth of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which limits the president’s ability to engage US forces in hostilities without congressional approval.
They also allege misconduct involving civilian casualties and military operations in Yemen and Venezuela.
The Pentagon has rejected the accusations.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker in January, threw his weight behind impeachment yesterday.
“I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution,” Mr Jeffries told ABC News.
“The so-called secretary of defence has abused his power, undermined our national security and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran,” he said.
“Pete Hegseth has got to go.”
Several Republicans have expressed dissatisfaction with Mr Hegseth’s leadership without committing to impeaching him.
Arkansas congressman French Hill said that he wanted to hear the debate before deciding whether the accusations justified impeachment.
Unlikely removal
Under the US Constitution, the House can impeach a senior government official by a simple majority vote, effectively bringing formal charges of serious misconduct.
The Senate then decides whether to convict and remove the official from office, requiring support from two-thirds of senators present.
Even with their enlarged majority next year, Democrats would need substantial Republican backing to reach that threshold. Only two Cabinet secretaries — almost 150 years apart — have been impeached in US history, and neither was removed by the Senate.
Mr Hegseth has dismissed Mr Massie’s impeachment effort as a “sham,” calling the congressman “disgruntled” and accusing his opponents of pursuing political destruction.
The Pentagon announced a rare press briefing by Mr Hegseth scheduled for tomorrow.
Mr Trump has publicly stood by his embattled defence chief, declaring last week: “I have every intention to keep him.”
But the president’s weakened political position after the midterms has left Mr Hegseth facing the prospect of an impeachment battle that could extend well beyond this week’s House vote.