Seven-term incumbent Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie lost his Republican primary for the state's 4th Congressional District last May to Donald Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein by a margin of 54.9% to 45.1%. The bitter, record-setting race drew more than $32 million in spending as Trump and his allies sought to oust Massie.
Massie and the president have had a contentious relationship for years, with their disagreements intensifying during Trump's second term. The libertarian-leaning Republican repeatedly broke with Trump over government spending, foreign military intervention and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, prompting Trump to publicly insult him and campaign against him.
Massie's original impeachment bid expired when the House adjourned in September. However, as Congress returns to Washington, he plans to reintroduce articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom he alleges engaged U.S. armed forces in hostilities against Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization or a formal declaration of war, violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
His resolution also cites unauthorized military operations and airstrikes in Yemen and Venezuela. The articles further accuse Hegseth of abusing Pentagon authority in military strikes targeting alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
Additionally, Massie accuses Hegseth of attempting to intimidate and retaliate against critics of the Trump administration for exercising their free speech rights, including targeting Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly after Kelly reminded troops they have the right to refuse illegal orders.
Hegseth, who has no plans to leave or resign from his position, responded to the impeachment threat with a video statement posted on Pentagon social media accounts.
"This is not about me," he stated. "The other side, in case you've noticed, they're obsessed. A disgruntled, defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies has … dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly, just like they tried against President Trump twice. You see, their policies don't work, so their obsession with political theater, disguised as power, drives them to try to destroy their opponents. It's all about the politics of personal destruction."
Fox News reports that growing Republican dissatisfaction with Hegseth, combined with Democrats' midterm gains and the possibility of GOP lawmakers skipping the lame-duck session, could give Massie's impeachment effort enough support to pass the House.
The Senate could quickly dismiss the charges, but the changing political landscape makes impeachment more likely than it was before the elections.
Hegseth, however, says this impeachment effort will be just as ineffective as the efforts to oust President Trump.
"We are more determined than ever, more resolute than ever, to finish what we have started," he said. "We will stand, we will fight and we will defend this republic from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Godspeed and keep going."
While lawmakers like Massie have threatened impeachment or pushed for Hegseth's resignation, and rumors have circulated about a possible move to a U.S. Senate seat in Tennessee, Hegseth and the White House have rejected calls for him to depart.
Despite heavy Republican midterm election losses tied to the Iran war, President Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, stating he has "every intention" of keeping him in the Cabinet and dismissing calls for his replacement.
