Thomas Massie forces House vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth

Republican Thomas Massie has introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers. The move forces a House vote on the matter, which must occur by Wednesday under chamber rules. Massie, an outgoing Kentucky congressman and vocal Trump critic, cited "high crimes and misdemeanors" and alleged Hegseth "has executed unlawful orders." The resolution includes unauthorized attacks on Iran and Yemen, civilian casualties from a school strike, extrajudicial killings of suspected drug boat crews, and the kidnapping of Venezuela's president. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he is a "hard yes" on impeachment. Hegseth has dismissed the effort as "politics of personal destruction," while Republicans blame last week's midterm losses on the Iran war. Massie first filed impeachment articles in September, but Speaker Mike Johnson recessed Congress before action. Watchdogs have also accused Hegseth of violating the Hatch Act in a video responding to critics.