The impeachment bid against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been brought to the Congressional agenda. Republican Representative Thomas Massie has introduced an 8-article impeachment resolution to the House, seeking Hegseth's removal from office and a ban on him holding federal office in the future.
Massie read the text of the resolution in its entirety on the floor of the House of Representatives, arguing that Hegseth "must be impeached." By invoking the privileged status mechanism under House rules, Massie's filing could require the Republican leadership to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote within two legislative days. However, the leadership could block the resolution from being considered under this status with a simple majority.
MILITARY OPERATIONS AT THE CENTER OF THE ACCUSATIONS
The accusations leveled against Hegseth in the impeachment text include launching wars without Congressional approval, weakening security mechanisms intended to prevent civilian casualties, and laying the groundwork for extrajudicial killings. The resolution focuses specifically on US military activities in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela, as well as attacks on ships suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific.
In the first three articles, Hegseth is accused of conducting military operations against Iran without Congressional approval and continuing the conflict despite initiatives for the withdrawal of American forces. In this context, it is alleged that the War Powers Resolution of 1973 has been violated.
The fourth article contains the allegation that measures to protect civilians in military operations have been weakened. The text cites as an example a US attack on the Shara'i-e Tayyibeh Girls' Elementary School in the Iranian city of Minab, which it states resulted in the deaths of more than 150 civilians, including 120 children.
In the other articles, Hegseth is sought to be held accountable for his attitude toward retired naval commander and Senatör Mark Kelly, the operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured, and military operations stated to have been conducted in Yemen in 2025.
SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS, DEFENSE FROM HEGSETH
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that he would support the impeachment motion against Hegseth. Jeffries accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and weakening US national security, stating that there would be "extremely strong" support for the motion from the Democratic side.
Hegseth, speaking at an event he attended in Rhode Island, said regarding the potential impeachment process, "I am not worried about being removed." Arguing that there are those in Congress acting against him with political motives, Hegseth stated, "There are many people acting for political reasons; what they are really objecting to is success."
The impeachment process in the US begins in the House of Representatives. If the articles of impeachment are passed there by a simple majority, the trial moves to the Senate. To remove a cabinet secretary from office, a two-thirds majority, or 67 votes, is required in the Senate.
In the current political arithmetic, it is assessed that it would be difficult to reach this majority in the Senate against Hegseth, who has the support of President Donald Trump and the Republicans. Despite this, Massie's move has made the debates regarding the military operations conducted by Hegseth more visible in Congress.
News Source: 12punto
