Hegseth Impeachment Vote Expected in US House
The Hegseth impeachment effort reaches a vote in the United States House of Representatives this week, after a Republican congressman filed eight articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced eight articles of impeachment on Monday, setting off a two-day clock for an expected House vote on Wednesday. The charges include waging war against Iran without congressional approval and other abuses of power.
Massie said Hegseth had broken the law by keeping American forces in hostilities against Iran for more than 90 days without the approval of Congress. “By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” he said.
Hegseth impeachment centres on the Iran war
Hegseth, who calls himself the “secretary of war” as part of his effort to rebrand a military he says was too weak and “woke” when he took office last year, could soon share something in common with an actual secretary of war.
William Belknap, who held that title in 1876, became the first, and to date only, civilian leader of the United States military to be impeached by Congress.
Congressional sources say the resolution may have the simple majority needed to pass the Republican-controlled House before Democrats take over on January 3. Massie himself told reporters he was not sure the measure had enough backing, and he cautioned that Republican leaders could try to avoid a straight vote by moving to dismiss it through a procedural motion.
Conviction appears unlikely in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required and Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats. The House currently has 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats.
Trump defends Hegseth as vote nears
President Donald Trump strongly defended Hegseth in an interview with CBS broadcast on Sunday, pointing to the performance of the United States military in Iran and Venezuela. “They want to impeach him. Very unfair. We had two wars, we won both,” Mr Trump said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the effort, saying impeachment in the middle of hostilities would be a terrible thing for “our allies and our enemies” to see.
Hegseth has mounted a defiant response, saying in a video message last week that he would not back down. Asked on Monday if he had enough Republican support to defeat the impeachment push, he said: “We’re not worried about that.” He has announced a news conference for Tuesday, his first at the Pentagon since May.
Why the Iran war is at the heart of the case
The impeachment case rests on the same war that has dominated American politics for months. Mr Trump has said the war with Iran is effectively over, and Tehran has set out seven demands for nuclear talks, but the legality of the war itself remains contested in Washington.
For Pakistan, the stakes in that war were direct. The fighting pushed oil prices up, rattled the rupee and forced Islamabad into careful diplomacy with both Washington and Tehran. The midterm results in the United States are not expected to unravel Pakistan’s ties with Washington, but a wounded Pentagon chief would add fresh uncertainty to an already unsettled relationship.
Mr Trump has also nominated Natalie Baker as the next American ambassador to Pakistan, and named Stephen Miller as his chief of staff, as he reshapes the team around him.
Impeaching a cabinet secretary is rare. It must be approved by both chambers for the secretary to be removed from office. The House vote this week will show whether the Republican majority is willing to take the first step, even if the Senate is unlikely to take the second. Dawn reported the impeachment move.
Frequently asked questions
Who filed the impeachment articles against Hegseth?
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday.
What is Hegseth accused of?
The articles accuse him of high crimes and misdemeanours, including waging war against Iran without congressional approval and other abuses of power.
When will the House vote?
The filing set off a two-day clock, with a House vote expected on Wednesday, though Republican leaders could try to dismiss the measure through a procedural motion first.
Could Hegseth actually be removed from office?
Removal needs conviction in the Senate by a two-thirds majority, which appears unlikely, as Republicans hold 53 of 100 Senate seats.
Has a Pentagon chief been impeached before?
No sitting defence secretary has been impeached. William Belknap, the secretary of war in 1876, remains the only civilian leader of the United States military impeached by Congress.
