Thomas Massie demands impeachment of US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Initiative to remove the Pentagon chief

Thomas Massie, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, formally proposed to his colleagues the impeachment of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The politician claims that the head of the defence department committed a constitutional violation by authorising strikes on Iranian territory for over 90 days without the appropriate parliamentary approval.

Initiator's arguments and Hegseth's reaction

According to Massie, his move is a kind of service to Hegseth. The Republican explains that it is better for the impeachment to take place now, while his party retains a majority in Congress, which would allow for the swift confirmation of a new secretary. He warns that after the Democrats come to power in January, the case against the Pentagon chief could escalate into a full-scale investigation.

Pete Hegseth himself disagrees with this assessment of the situation. In response to the initiative, he called Massie an "angry, failed congressman", as the Republican failed to win re-election in the midterms. Furthermore, the Pentagon chief believes he is being attacked because he is demonstrating effectiveness in his work.

Procedural aspects of the case review

In accordance with current US parliamentary procedure, congressmen are required to vote within 48 hours on one of three options: approve or reject the removal of the official, refer the case to the relevant committee, or postpone the review.