Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has moved to force a vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, setting the stage for a showdown regarding one of the most prominent figures in Donald Trump's administration.
The articles accuse Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors, alleging that he abused his powers and knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders. Specifically, Massie accuses the Pentagon chief of illegally waging war against Iran without congressional authorization, in violation of the War Powers Resolution.
This effort to remove the defense secretary comes after sweeping Republican losses in the midterm elections. The unpopular war in Iran championed by Hegseth is cited as a factor that fueled the party's crushing defeat.
The House is likely to vote on the articles of impeachment as early as this week. The move puts significant pressure on fellow Republicans to decide whether to remove Hegseth from office.