Washington, D.C. [U.S.], November 5 (ANI): Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has issued an ultimatum to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, saying he will not reintroduce impeachment proceedings if the Pentagon chief steps down. The pressure is mounting as the fallout from the Republican Party’s setbacks in the November 3 midterm elections continues.
“There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” Massie posted on X on November 4, responding to a report published by CNN.
According to CNN’s November 4 report, Massie intends to trigger a House vote on the impeachment effort when federal lawmakers return for the next session. Citing multiple Republican insiders, the report noted that lawmakers anticipated the measure would pass the chamber.
Massie’s latest declaration signals that his impeachment effort will move forward unless Hegseth resigns. The political maneuver comes as Democrats prepare to assume control of Congress, while several conservative figures have also expressed deep concerns about Hegseth’s leadership and the administration’s handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Rep. Jason Crow, who represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District and serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “needs to go.”
“He’s incompetent. Every day that he’s in the Pentagon, Major, is a day that our service members, our men and women, our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters are at greater risk,” Crow told CBS News.
Rep. Patrick Ryan, who represents New York’s 18th Congressional District and is a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, said the first priority would be removing Hegseth.
“The American people just sent a resounding message for change and for accountability. One of our first opportunities for real accountability will be getting rid of Pete Hegseth, who is the most incompetent and immoral Secretary of Defense in American history. Right when Congress gets back next week, there will be a privileged resolution vote for impeachment of Pete Hegseth. What that means is every representative will have to stand and be counted and say, ‘Do you support this absolute clown who’s gotten us into this war, failed to get us out of it, driven up costs for everyone, and killed American troops?’ Please sign up at firehegseth.com. Make your voice heard, put pressure on your representative, put pressure on every representative to do the right thing for the American people, end this war, protect our troops, and impeach Pete Hegseth,” he posted on X.
Earlier, on September 15, ABC News reported that Massie had presented a 34-page resolution directly on the House floor, detailing grievances related to U.S. military operations, civilian casualties and the handling of the conflict with Iran.
The document also alleged that Hegseth had overstepped his authority during military operations in Iran, Yemen, Venezuela and other territories while bypassing congressional oversight. These allegations were raised by Massie and have not been validated as formal findings of official misconduct.
The initial impeachment effort stalled before reaching a formal floor vote, prior to the House adjourning for the midterm campaign period.
The renewed push for impeachment coincides with heightened scrutiny of Hegseth’s tenure in the Trump administration following Republican losses in the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump publicly backed Hegseth on November 4, saying he was doing a “very good job” despite mounting speculation about his political future.
Meanwhile, the administration has faced intense scrutiny over its strategic approach to the conflict with Iran, prompting conservative critics to question both its military tactics and the political consequences.
Pentagon representatives, however, defended Hegseth, emphasizing that he remains fully committed to leading the department through the remainder of Trump’s term.
An impeachment resolution requires a simple majority to pass the House, while conviction and removal from office in the Senate require a two-thirds majority of senators present and voting.
Massie’s latest announcement puts renewed pressure on Hegseth’s tenure, making his resignation the condition for withdrawing the impeachment effort. (ANI)
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