House Republican files impeachment resolution against Hegseth over Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is facing potential impeachment after U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., filed a resolution accusing him of committing high crimes and misdemeanors. Introducing his impeachment resolution Tuesday on the U.S. House floor, Massie argued Hegseth has "abused the powers of the Department of Defense," mainly by waging unauthorized military hostilities in Iran. Only Congress has the power to declare war, but Congress still hasn't authorized the ongoing U.S. military actions against Iran. The War Powers Act of 1973 gives the president only 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval. When that deadline passed, the Trump administration skirted the requirement by temporarily declaring a ceasefire, a move which Hegseth claimed reset the 60-day clock. By the time the U.S. and Iran signed a 60-day peace framework in mid-June — which Iran promptly violated — Congress had passed a war powers resolution ordering a halt of further military conflict in Iran. The Pentagon ignored the edict. Hegseth therefore "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation," Massie argued, and "acted in a manner contrary to his trust as secretary of defense…to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States of America." According to the Pentagon's own estimates, 18 U.S. service members have died and at least 750 have sustained injuries due to the Iranian conflict. Massie also accused Hegseth of unlawfully dismantling civilian protection infrastructure within the DOD, including eliminating funding for the Army's Casualty Tracking Database and slashing civilian harm mitigation and response staff. Hegseth "has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution and the wellbeing of the United States military personnel if allowed to remain in office," the Kentucky lawmaker concluded, thus warranting impeachment in the House, trial in the Senate, and removal from office. Because Massie introduced his eight articles of impeachment under privilege, the House will likely vote on it within a few days.