In the US, Republican Thomas Massie has formally tabled a resolution in the House of Representatives to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hagseth. The head of the Pentagon is accused of abuse of power, carrying out unlawful orders and violating the Constitution during military operations, in particular the war against Iran. The document sets out eight counts of charges, and a vote in the lower house of Congress could take place as early as 11 November. Massi tabled the resolution on 9 November, using a procedure that obliges the leadership of the House of Representatives to consider the motion within two working days.
- Republican Thomas Massie has initiated impeachment proceedings against US Defence Secretary Pete Hagseth.
- The resolution contains eight allegations, most of which relate to US military operations.
- The main criticism is that war was waged against Iran without proper approval from Congress.
- The House of Representatives may consider the impeachment issue as early as 11 November.
- Democratic leader Hakim Jeffries has publicly backed the removal of the Defence Secretary.
Why is Hegset facing impeachment?
Member of Congress Thomas Massie accuses the Defence Secretary of breaching the 1973 War Powers Act. In his view, the Pentagon continued military operations against Iran without the necessary authorisation from Congress, thereby exceeding the powers of the executive branch.
The 34-page resolution contains eight counts of charges. These relate to war with Iran, military operations in Yemen and Venezuela, attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as alleged breaches of the rules on the protection of civilians.
Massi claims that Gagset deliberately carried out unlawful orders and acted in breach of the constitutional limits on the powers of the Secretary of Defence. At the same time, the allegations made by the Member of Congress do not in themselves constitute a finding of guilt against the Secretary.
The Democrats backed the impeachment following the congressional elections
The initiative came about following the interim the US elections, in which the Republican Party suffered significant losses. The war against Iran and its economic consequences became one of the main topics of political debate during the campaign.
Leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives Hakim Jeffries declared his support for impeachment. He accused Hegset of abusing his power, undermining national security and playing a part in unleashing a war that has led to rising prices for Americans.
Given the current balance of power in the House of Representatives, the votes of all Democrats and three Republicans would potentially be enough to pass the resolution. However, the final outcome will depend on the attendance of lawmakers and the positions of individual members of Congress.
When will the vote take place, and could Hegset be removed?
Massi’s resolution has been tabled as a matter of priority, so the House of Representatives must consider it within two legislative days. A vote may take place on 11 November, although the Republican leadership has the option of proposing that the resolution be rejected or referred to a committee for consideration.
A simple majority of votes in the House of Representatives is required to bring about impeachment. If the resolution is passed, the matter will be referred to the Senate, where the support of two-thirds of the senators will be required to remove the minister from office.
Hegset himself rejected the allegations and described the initiative as politically motivated. The President Donald Trump He also spoke out in defence of the Pentagon chief and had previously stated that he intended to keep him in post.
