GOP Rep. Thomas Massie started a process on Tuesday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Kentucky congressman’s resolution holds that the secretary waged an unlawful war against Iran, ignored laws designed to “minimize civilian casualties” and unlawfully killed suspected drug traffickers.
It also alleges that Mr. Hegseth suppressed the free speech of Sen. Mark Kelly, Arizona Democrat; illegally kidnapped the leader of Venezuela; and waged an unlawful war in Yemen.
Mr. Massie, who has represented Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District since 2012, lost in May’s primary to Ed Gallrein, who was backed by President Trump.
Impeachment resolutions are automatically considered within two legislative days.
This means a vote is set to occur by Thursday, given the current House calendar.
The GOP House majority will probably table the resolution, which would force Republicans to go on the record regarding the legality of Mr. Hegseth’s actions as secretary.
An impeachment resolution requires a simple majority to pass, but a two-thirds majority is required in the Senate to convict.
Mr. Hegseth personally campaigned in Kentucky to oppose Mr. Massie in the primary.
Mr. Massie previously introduced several war powers resolutions challenging the legality of the Trump administration’s military actions.
The libertarian-leaning representative was first elected to Congress at the height of the conservative tea party wave and has been a thorn in his leadership’s side ever since, regularly defecting on otherwise party-line votes.
Asked for comment on the resolution, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told The Washington Times in a statement, “The Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before. The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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