Hegseth impeachment effort begins in House

A Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie (Kentucky) introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a bid to force House members to vote on whether they support the polarizing Cabinet official, The Washington Post reports.

The effort centers on Hegseth’s role overseeing the unpopular Iran war, which top GOP officials have blamed for their crushing losses in last week’s midterm elections.

Massie has alleged that the war is unconstitutional because the Trump administration initiated the conflict without the approval of lawmakers and has since continued military action despite Congress demanding that the Pentagon cease hostilities.

Reading the impeachment articles on the House floor, Massie said that Hegseth had “abused” his powers as defense secretary and had “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” by carrying out strikes against Iran. The congressman said that Hegseth “will remain a threat to the constitution if allowed to remain in office.”

The measure would face long odds in the Republican-controlled Senate. Democrats will have sizable majorities in the House and the Senate when they take power in the new year.

President Donald Trump defended Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon and the Iran war more broadly, though he acknowledged the politically unpopular spike in gas prices the conflict caused.

“What has Hegseth done? He won the war,” Trump said.