Massie Forces House Vote to Impeach Hegseth
Is this a necessary check on lawless killings or a stunt that cheapens the Constitution?
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Above: Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C on Oct. 29. Image credit: Finn Gomez/Getty Images
The Facts
- U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) moved Monday to force a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against Defense (War) Secretary Pete Hegseth, charging him with violating three provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 through the war in Iran.
- When asked Monday whether he had Republican support to stop the impeachment effort, Hegseth said, "We're not worried about that." He also said that he would hold a news conference Tuesday at the Pentagon.
- Other articles accuse Hegseth of ignoring laws that limit civilian casualties, ordering strikes on suspected drug boats, waging unauthorized war in Yemen, seizing Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and retaliating against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
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The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Congress must remove Hegseth. A defense secretary who bullies Congress out of its war powers and turns the Pentagon into a culture-war circus has forfeited any claim to the job. Impeachment exists for exactly this kind of lawless abuse, regardless of claims to the contrary by the president and his allies.
Pro-establishment narrative
The president's enemies are overreaching. Under Hegseth, recruiting goals are being met, a hostile regime's war machine is in ruins and the military is finally focused on fighting rather than ideology. Hegseth's record should be defended, not used for a political game. Impeaching him would only cheapen the Constitution.
