Rep. Thomas Massie said a fresh effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would depend on whether Hegseth remains in office when Congress returns next month.
On Monday, Massie posted on X an exchange with an unidentified journalist, who asked whether he would reintroduce the articles when lawmakers returned to Washington. Massie answered, “If he’s still SecDef.”
Massie introduced an eight-count impeachment resolution in September. It accused Hegseth of unlawfully starting the Iran war without Congress’ consent, defying lawmakers and causing civilian casualties without military necessity. Those are allegations in the articles, not findings by the House. The Independent reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson recessed the House without a vote on the articles.
Massie suggested at the time that Republicans might provide enough votes to pass the measure in the House and send the matter to a Senate trial, The Independent reported. The Kentucky Republican is due to leave Congress in January after losing his primary to a challenger backed by President Donald Trump, the outlet said.
A separate Democratic effort against Hegseth includes six impeachment articles filed by Rep. Yassamin Ansari with 13 Democratic co-sponsors, according to her office. EconoTimes previously covered Massie’s draft and the prospect of wider House scrutiny; those articles also contain allegations, not House findings.
The Independent reported that Congress is due back next month, after next week’s midterm elections. Massie said he would pursue his effort then only if Hegseth remained defense secretary.
