WASHINGTON — Days after US President Donald Trump’s party suffered a drastic midterm defeat, a Republican lawmaker has made a move to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, triggering a vote in the House of Representatives as early as this week.Congressman Thomas Massie has submitted eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of abusing his powers and illegally waging war on Iran. He also cited the school attack launched in the early days of the war, in which a US strike killed 120 children.Calls to impeach Hegseth have grown as several Republicans have attributed the GOP’s sweeping midterm losses to the Iran war.Massie is using a special procedure that requires the House to consider his resolution within two days, meaning the vote could take place as early as Wednesday in the currently Republican-controlled House, with some lawmakers potentially joining Democrats in backing the charges.Hegseth had “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” by waging war without congressional approval, Massie said on the House floor.Although impeachment would be a humiliating blow to the Trump administration, Trump continued to back Hegseth during an impromptu White House briefing Monday afternoon, saying he would stand by him if he were impeached. The US president said Hegseth had done a “good job” and had “won” wars in Iran and Venezuela, referring to the illegal capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.Even if Hegseth is impeached, he would not automatically be removed from office, as conviction and removal would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a much tougher hurdle, even after Democrats take control on January 3.The Republicans’ recent election defeat has caused divisions within the party, potentially leading some lawmakers to abstain from voting and making it easier for the impeachment resolution to pass.WASHINGTON — Days after US President Donald Trump’s party suffered a drastic midterm defeat, a Republican lawmaker has made a move to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran, triggering a vote in the House of Representatives as early as this week.Congressman Thomas Massie has submitted eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of abusing his powers and illegally waging war on Iran. He also cited the school attack launched in the early days of the war, in which a US strike killed 120 children.Calls to impeach Hegseth have grown as several Republicans have attributed the GOP’s sweeping midterm losses to the Iran war.Massie is using a special procedure that requires the House to consider his resolution within two days, meaning the vote could take place as early as Wednesday in the currently Republican-controlled House, with some lawmakers potentially joining Democrats in backing the charges.Hegseth had “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” by waging war without congressional approval, Massie said on the House floor.Although impeachment would be a humiliating blow to the Trump administration, Trump continued to back Hegseth during an impromptu White House briefing Monday afternoon, saying he would stand by him if he were impeached. The US president said Hegseth had done a “good job” and had “won” wars in Iran and Venezuela, referring to the illegal capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.Even if Hegseth is impeached, he would not automatically be removed from office, as conviction and removal would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a much tougher hurdle, even after Democrats take control on January 3.The Republicans’ recent election defeat has caused divisions within the party, potentially leading some lawmakers to abstain from voting and making it easier for the impeachment resolution to pass.
Republican lawmaker launches move to impeach US Defense chief Pete Hegseth
