Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed eight articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor Tuesday, accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanors related to unauthorized military operations and constitutional violations.
War Powers Violations Dominate Charges
The first three articles center on alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Massie argues Hegseth’s Department of War is waging an Iran war without congressional declaration, statutory authorization, or imminent threat to the United States. The Kentucky congressman claims Hegseth defied direct orders from both the House and Senate to remove troops from Iran and continued hostilities beyond the War Powers Resolution’s 60-day termination period.
Massie’s fourth and fifth articles accuse Hegseth of failing to minimize civilian casualties and conducting extrajudicial killings. The latter charge specifically targets unauthorized lethal military operations against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea, which Massie claims replaced maritime law enforcement with military targeting.
Maduro Capture Labeled Kidnapping
Article seven addresses Operation Absolute Resolve, the January mission where United States Special Forces captured former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife from Caracas. Massie condemns the operation as the kidnapping of a sovereign foreign leader conducted without constitutional or legal authority. The congressman argues this action exceeded executive power and violated international norms governing relations between nations.
Article six accuses Hegseth of suppressing free speech by retaliating against Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. The Democratic senator joined other lawmakers in a video that critics claimed encouraged active military members to disobey lawful orders, prompting alleged retaliation from the War Secretary.
Yemen Operations Under Fire
The final article charges Hegseth with carrying out unlawful orders in Yemen through Operation Rough Rider. Massie claims the operation proceeded without congressional authorization or imminent threat, violated war powers reporting requirements, and resulted in extensive civilian deaths. The article specifically condemns strikes on civilian objects, rescuers, and other protected persons under international law.
After reading the articles for over an hour, Massie declared that Hegseth abused powers entrusted to him by subordinating constitutional limits on military force to his own policy objectives. The congressman stated Hegseth remains a threat to civilians, lawful military operations, and the Constitution itself. Massie called for impeachment, trial, removal from office, and disqualification from holding any future federal position. Neither Massie’s office nor the Pentagon provided additional comment.