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US Politics · The United States and Iran

Republican Rep. Massie files impeachment charges against Defense Secretary Hegseth over Iran war

A House vote could come by Wednesday, and Trump says he will "stand by" Hegseth, while Democratic leader Jeffries says he is a "hard yes."

38 news outlets reported this
Liberal16 outletsMassie's charges and Democrats' coming control of CongressCenter12 outletsThe procedure, vote odds, and who might back itConservative10 outletsTrump stands by Hegseth and calls Massie loser
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced eight articles of against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on floor on Monday. They accuse Hegseth of waging the war on Iran without congressional authorization, as the War Powers Resolution requires. They also cite civilian harm, strikes on alleged drug boats, the operation that seized Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, strikes in Yemen and suppression of free speech.

Massie is using a privileged procedure that could bring a House vote by Wednesday. He first announced the articles in mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned the House before a vote. Johnson told reporters that Cabinet secretaries are not impeached for "political gain or for cheap tricks" and that he thinks that is what this effort is.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, expected to become speaker, said he is a "hard yes." Trump said he will "stand by" Hegseth, who he said "won two wars," and called Massie a "loser."

Hegseth said his team is not worried and that he welcomes defending his actions in . He has a press conference set for Tuesday. Impeachment needs a House majority.

Removal needs two-thirds of the , and Democrats are expected to hold about 54 seats there. Democrats won both chambers in the Nov. 3 , and Republicans keep control until Jan. 3.

Key figures
  • eight articlesof impeachment against HegsethDeutsche Welle
  • more than 150 peoplekilled in the US bombing of a school in Minab, Iran, per Massie's resolution as Al Jazeera reportsAl Jazeera English
  • at least 243suspected drug traffickers allegedly killed extrajudicially, per Massie's resolutionRoll Call
  • two-thirdsof the Senate needed to convict and remove HegsethAl Jazeera English
  • about 54 seatsexpected Democratic Senate seats, short of the 67 votes neededAl Jazeera English

Three sides of the story

16Liberal12Center10Conservative

38 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal16 outlets

Massie's charges and Democrats' coming control of Congress

Al Jazeera English describes the "outgoing Kentucky lawmaker" Massie reading the resolution on Monday. It lists the charges, from the Iran war to the Minab school strike and drug boat killings.

It says the resolution has little chance of passing the present Republican-led Congress, but scrutiny of Hegseth will probably grow once incoming Democratic lawmakers take their oaths. It quotes Jeffries calling the war "reckless and costly," Johnson calling the effort a cheap trick, and Hegseth saying he is "happy to do it all day long" if the military actions are to be litigated.

Trump and Rubio defend Hegseth. The New York Times says Massie set in motion a House vote that must occur by Wednesday, and a Senate trial would follow if the House approves the charges. PBS NewsHour places the push within Congress's final stretch before Republicans lose control in January.

CBS News reports that Massie filed the articles of impeachment on Monday.

Center12 outlets

The procedure, vote odds, and who might back it

Roll Call leads with the mechanics. Johnson must rule whether Massie's resolution is privileged, and if he does, he must schedule a vote within two legislative days. Roll Call notes that recent privileged impeachment attempts have not been approved.

It quotes Massie on Republicans who may defect and Democrats Jeffries and Adam Smith. Deutsche Welle says Trump told reporters, "I'll stand by him," and sets out in question-and-answer form who supports impeachment and what removal would take, noting French Hill wants to hear the debate first. The Hill's newsletter says Massie is forcing a vote later in the week.

Reason's podcast, under a headline saying Massie is right to impeach, has editors debating whether removing Hegseth would help end the Iran war.

Conservative10 outlets

Trump stands by Hegseth and calls Massie loser

The Washington Examiner and Just the News lead with Trump standing by Hegseth. Both quote him: "He won two wars," and Massie is a "stone cold loser." The Examiner notes Trump said this after being asked if he would keep Hegseth if impeachment succeeds.

It adds that Hegseth says the Pentagon is "not worried" and will address the articles at a Tuesday press conference. Just the News describes the push as coming from Democrats and Massie and lists the Iran war, Yemen and the Maduro operation among the complaints. It mentions Rubio's defense and says conviction would take two-thirds of the Senate.

A second Examiner piece reports Massie floating Ron DeSantis as a replacement, citing his military legal background. Massie said DeSantis likely does not want the job.

All sources: 70 articles from 38 outlets

Liberal (29)

Center (20)

Conservative (21)

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