Pete Hegseth Faces Impeachment Resolution Over US War in Iran

WASHINGTON: Republican Representative Thomas Massie has introduced articles of impeachment against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution through continued US military action against Iran without congressional authorization.

Massie’s resolution contains eight articles of impeachment. The first three focus on allegations that Hegseth continued military operations in Iran without a declaration of war or statutory authorization and after Congress had directed the withdrawal of US forces.

The move comes amid a wider congressional dispute over the scope of presidential and congressional authority to conduct military operations against Iran.

Massie has simultaneously been pressing for the release of additional records connected to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

According to reports, his efforts on both issues were among the matters left unresolved when House Speaker Mike Johnson moved to end the House session early ahead of the November midterm elections.

Massie criticised the decision from the House floor, arguing that lawmakers should remain in Washington to debate pending issues, including his efforts to halt the Iran conflict and obtain additional Epstein-related records.

Speaker Mike Johnson said the House would have to consider Massie’s impeachment resolution because it was introduced as a privileged resolution, but he indicated that he did not expect it to pass.

Massie’s resolution requires House consideration within the timetable established for privileged resolutions. The House’s scheduling decision subsequently delayed consideration of the measure.

The Pentagon has defended Hegseth’s leadership.

A Defense Department spokesperson described Hegseth as a transformative leader and said the department remained united behind his direction, according to The Washington Post.

Massie, meanwhile, argues that continued military operations without congressional authorization violate constitutional and statutory limits on executive war powers. His allegations are contained in the impeachment articles and remain matters for Congress to consider.

The dispute comes alongside separate congressional efforts concerning the president’s authority to continue the Iran war, highlighting an ongoing institutional debate in Washington over war powers, congressional authorization and executive authority.