Balint calls for Hegseth to be ‘held accountable’

by Sam Douglass

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced eight articles of impeachment against Secretary of War (also Defense) Pete Hegseth on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC Monday afternoon, setting up a potential impeachment vote by Wednesday, barely a week after Republicans suffered historic defeats in the midterm elections.

Under Executive Order 14347, President Trump authorized the use of the title of Secretary of War, while preserving the original statutory legal title until changed by Congress. 

Vermont’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Becca Balint, has not publicly indicated whether she intends to support the impeachment resolution, although she has previously been sharply critical of Hegseth’s leadership and the Trump administration. Yesterday on social media, Balint described Hegseth’s record as defense secretary as “disgraceful,” but has not announced how she plans to vote on the eight articles of impeachment. She has also recently advocated on social media for holding Hegseth accountable for his conduct in office.

Vermont Daily Chronicle has contacted Balint’s office for comment but has not received a response. This story will be updated once a response is received.

Massie, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, accused Hegseth of violating multiple provisions of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 through his actions in the ongoing war in Iran, as well as abusing his authority in other military operations and retaliating against political critics.

“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said in a statement Monday. “Secretary Hegseth’s constitutional violations extend beyond the illegal war in Iran. 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.”

The first three articles accuse Hegseth of violating separate provisions of the War Powers Resolution, including initiating military hostilities without congressional authorization, continuing the war after Congress directed the withdrawal of American forces, and exceeding the law’s 60-day limit and potential 30-day withdrawal period for unauthorized military operations.

The remaining five articles concern allegations that Hegseth ignored laws intended to minimize civilian casualties, authorized unlawful military strikes against suspected drug traffickers that resulted in at least 243 deaths, retaliated against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly for speech questioning unlawful military orders, directed the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and initiated unauthorized military operations in Yemen.

“Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” Massie said while introducing the articles on the House floor.

Massie’s actions come at a consequential moment for congressional Republicans, who suffered sweeping losses in last Tuesday’s midterm elections. The ongoing war in Iran and the economic consequences of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz became likely sources of political backlash for Republicans, as some Republican lawmakers and allies placed blame for the party’s electoral defeats on Hegseth and the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict.

Massie, who lost his Republican primary earlier this year, also warned that the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress could pursue more extensive investigations into Hegseth and the administration.

“My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what’s coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year,” Massie wrote in his press release. “They will hold hearings and trials. President Trump should replace Secretary Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed in the Senate.”

The House is required to address the measure within two legislative days, but does not guarantee an up-or-down vote on impeachment. Republican leadership, in this case Speaker Mike Johnson, could instead move to table the resolution or refer it to committee, preventing an immediate vote.

A DC-based political insider told the Vermont Daily Chronicle that they’re doubtful it will go anywhere and questions whether Speaker Johnson will even allow it to the floor.

“It depends on how many Republicans want to score points against Trump on the way out,” the insider told VDC. “Regardless, I doubt this will see the light of day. They don’t want to hand Massie a win on the way out.”

Due to its timing, even Republicans who lost their reelection bids will have an opportunity to vote before leaving office in January, raising questions about whether the results of the midterms will influence their positions.

Democrats are expected to support impeachment, and only a small number of Republican votes could be needed to approve the articles if Democrats vote as a bloc. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House.

Even if the House votes to impeach Hegseth, removing him from office would present a considerably greater challenge. A conviction in the U.S. Senate requires a two-thirds majority, meaning substantial Republican support would be necessary to remove him.