Washington: Republican congressman Thomas Massie filed a resolution to impeach Pete Hegseth, arguing the defence secretary abused the power of his office by waging war against Iran without congressional approval and in the absence of an imminent threat.
Massie, who has split from President Donald Trump and the administration on several key issues, began reading the impeachment resolution in the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon (US time).
“By such conduct, [he] has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” Massie said.
“Hegseth thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust, or profit under the United States.”
Republicans still control both chambers of Congress until January. The resolution could pass the House if a small number of Republicans join Democrats in voting to impeach Hegseth, though he would then have to be convicted in the Senate to be removed from office.
Massie – who is retiring from Congress – had widely telegraphed his intention to reintroduce a resolution to impeach Hegseth following last week’s midterm elections.
Hegseth has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning (US time). Trump said during an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday that Hegseth was doing a “great job” and it was “very unfair” to impeach him.
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