Massie-led impeachment bid against Hegseth fails as Democrats eye a new push
The House rejected Rep. Thomas Massie's resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Democrats signal they may bring new articles over alleged withholding of Ukraine military aid once they take control of the chamber in January.
The House on Tuesday rejected a resolution from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a failed effort that has already set the stage for a renewed push from Democrats. Lawmakers in the opposition party have signaled they may introduce new impeachment articles after taking the House majority in January, with the alleged improper withholding of Ukraine military aid as the likely basis.
Massie's resolution targeted Hegseth over military operations against Iran and against alleged drug smugglers that, according to the resolution's backers, were carried out without authorization. The House voted it down, leaving the allegations without a formal chamber-level finding. Hegseth has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The Ukraine allegation remains unverified. Fox News Digital has not confirmed that military aid was improperly withheld, and the claim is currently a central part of what Democrats are expected to pursue. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., said she expects oversight hearings on Ukraine funding once her party controls the House and gains the power to launch investigations.
Rep.-elect Scott Wiener, D-Calif., has said he supports impeaching Hegseth, though he acknowledged he lacks direct knowledge of the evidence. House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast, R-Fla., has described the Democratic moves as politically motivated.
The procedural math is clear but difficult. Impeachment requires only a simple majority in the House. Removal from office requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate, which remains under Republican control and makes conviction unlikely. Massie has said he hopes a Democratic-controlled Senate would hold a trial, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged on Monday that the House impeach and the Senate hold a trial. Schumer did not respond to requests for comment.
The dispute also touches a long-running legal question about the division of power over military action. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, while the president directs the armed forces, and the boundary between those roles remains legally contested.
Zach Smith of the Heritage Foundation called the effort a waste of time, arguing that impeachment is aimed at deterring conservatives from serving in future Republican administrations.
A separate report from the New York Times added another dimension. It said the White House warned that congressional oversight inquiries could be criminal, although the legal basis for that warning was unclear. The same report noted that the Constitution grants lawmakers immunity for legislative acts, a protection that could complicate any attempt to treat oversight activity as unlawful.
Source: foxnews.com
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