Republican Thomas Massie Files Impeachment Articles Against Pete Hegseth

Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on September 15, 2026. Massie alleges that Hegseth committed high crimes and misdemeanors by waging an unlawful war in Iran for over 90 days without congressional authorization, violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The resolution specifically cites a strike on a school in Minab, Iran, that killed more than 168 people, and accuses Hegseth of overseeing unauthorized operations in Yemen and the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Additional charges include the extrajudicial killing of suspected drug traffickers, the suppression of free speech through retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly, and the dismantling of civilian protection infrastructure within the Department of Defense. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson defended Hegseth, with Blanche asserting the Secretary follows the law and Wilson calling him a transformative leader. Senator Thom Tillis offered a dissenting Republican view, urging President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth due to inept management.

Although the resolution was introduced as a privileged measure requiring a floor vote within two legislative days, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson canceled the scheduled Thursday vote and sent members home for an extended midterm recess. Massie and Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal accused GOP leadership of intentionally derailing the process to avoid a recorded vote on the unpopular conflict just weeks before the November midterms.