Jeffries Says He’s a ‘Hard Yes’ on Impeaching Hegseth as Massie Moves to Force a House Vote

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TodayViralUSA) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he will vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, putting the top House Democrat squarely behind a Republican-led effort that could force a floor vote as soon as this week.

“I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution,” Jeffries said on ABC’s “This Week.” He accused Hegseth of abusing his power, undermining national security and engineering “this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran, which has skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe,” adding: “Pete Hegseth has got to go.”

Massie to force the issue

The impeachment push is being led by Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, an outgoing Republican who has frequently clashed with President Donald Trump. Massie told ABC News he plans to reintroduce a privileged impeachment resolution as early as Monday. Under House rules, leaders must schedule action on a privileged resolution within two legislative days once it is raised on the floor.

Massie’s 34-page resolution, first read on the House floor in September, lays out eight articles of impeachment. The first accuses Hegseth of carrying out unlawful orders in violation of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by sending U.S. forces into hostilities without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress. Other articles cite further War Powers claims and allegations involving civilian casualties and extrajudicial killings, Newsweek reported.

Democrats to huddle Tuesday

Jeffries, who is widely expected to become speaker when the new Democratic-controlled Congress is seated in January, stopped short of promising that every member of his caucus would back the measure. He said House Democrats would discuss it Tuesday morning, when lawmakers return to Washington for the first time since last week’s midterm elections, but predicted “incredibly strong support.”

Because any vote would take place during the current lame-duck session, Republicans still hold the House majority. Impeaching a Cabinet officer requires a simple majority in the House; removal would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

Trump and Hegseth push back

Trump has stood by his defense secretary, telling reporters Thursday that Hegseth has “done a fantastic job” and that he has “every intention to keep him.” Hegseth dismissed the effort in a video posted to X, saying “a disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies” had filed “sham articles of impeachment” and calling it “political theater,” according to The Hill.