Hegseth tells Massie his impeachment push will fail
The defense secretary mocked the Kentucky Republican's plan to vote on the articles before the House returns to Washington on Monday.
By Robert Marshall ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the proposed House vote on impeachment articles against him a political stunt on Thursday. He released a video on social media to dismiss the effort, which Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., plans to bring to the floor when lawmakers return to Washington on Monday.
Hegseth referred to Massie as a disgruntled and defeated congressman. He said the new articles are sham attempts that mirror the two previous impeachments of President Donald Trump. Hegseth stated, “It’s all about the politics of personal destruction. Didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me.”
Massie lost his Republican primary this month after clashing with Trump. He urged the president to replace Hegseth while Republicans still hold a majority in the Senate. On the social platform X, Massie wrote that his impeachment resolution is a gentler version of what Democrats will do if they take control of Congress. He added that the only way he would not reintroduce the articles is if Hegseth resigns.
The push for impeachment is linked to the ongoing war in Iran and Republican losses in this week's midterm elections. Hegseth spent only a brief moment in his five-minute video addressing the conflict. He instead focused on the partisan nature of the vote.
Trump said on Wednesday that he does not plan to replace Hegseth. He praised the secretary on Thursday, saying Hegseth has done a fantastic job. Trump acknowledged that Hegseth probably has opposition regarding his actions, such as purging military leadership. However, two people familiar with discussions told NBC News this week that Trump has asked some allies who he thinks should succeed Hegseth.
Massie tried to force a vote on the matter in September. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent the House home early, stalling that effort. For the current measure to pass, Massie needs enough Republican colleagues to join all Democrats in supporting the vote.
The House has impeached only two Cabinet officials in its history. Those include former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was removed in a partisan vote, and William Belknap, the secretary of war in the 1870s. The Senate has never convicted a Cabinet member.
