Hegseth could be the third Cabinet secretary impeached. Who were the others?

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could become the third Cabinet secretary impeached in U.S. history after Rep. Thomas Massie filed eight articles of impeachment Monday, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution and other charges related to military operations. Hegseth dismissed the effort as a "political spectacle." The charges include unlawful war initiation in Iran, ignoring laws minimizing civilian casualties, and the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supports the effort, though Senate conviction is unlikely given Republican control. The measure faces an uncertain path during the lame-duck session before Democrats take over in January. Only two Cabinet secretaries have been previously impeached: William Belknap in 1876 over bribery allegations, who was acquitted after resigning, and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024 over border policy, whose articles were dismissed by the Senate. Experts note Hegseth's case differs from Mayorkas' due to potential War Powers violations and being led by a same-party lawmaker.