House Democrats Launch Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth
Washington — On Wednesday, House Democrats took a bold step by filing articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, raising significant concerns about his management of military operations in Iran and broader leadership issues.
Led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari from Arizona, the resolution outlines six specific articles of impeachment.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the initiative is unlikely to progress in the current House, where Republicans hold a slim majority. However, should Democrats regain control after the midterm elections, they may revive their efforts.
The seven-page document accuses Hegseth of committing high crimes and misdemeanors, a constitutional basis for impeachment. It asserts that he has "demonstrated a willful disregard for the Constitution, abused the powers of his office, and acted in a manner grossly incompatible with the rule of law."
According to the resolution, Hegseth failed to prevent military actions that allegedly violated the law of armed conflict, referencing a tragic incident on February 28 when a bombing at a girls' school in Iran resulted in 168 fatalities. A preliminary assessment indicated that the U.S. was "likely" involved but did not intentionally target the school.
The resolution further claims that Hegseth's actions raise serious concerns regarding violations of the Geneva Conventions, citing his remarks about showing "no quarter, no mercy for our enemies."
Additionally, it highlights Hegseth's sharing of sensitive military operation details in a private Signal chat last year, accusing him of "gross negligence" in handling classified information. The resolution also alleges that he obstructed constitutional oversight by withholding information related to operations in Venezuela and Iran, undermining public confidence in the Department of Defense and U.S. commitments to NATO.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson dismissed the impeachment effort as "just another Democrat trying to make headlines," asserting that the Department of War has successfully achieved its objectives in Iran.
"Secretary Hegseth will continue to protect the homeland and project peace through strength," Wilson stated. "This is just another charade to distract the American people from our major successes at the Department of War."
The resolution has garnered support from several Democratic representatives, including Sarah McBride (Delaware), Lauren Underwood (Illinois), Al Green (Texas), Steve Cohen (Tennessee), Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Nikema Williams (Georgia), Dina Titus (Nevada), Dave Min (California), Shri Thanedar (Michigan), Melanie Stansbury (New Mexico), Mike Quigley (Illinois), and Brittany Pettersen (Colorado).
Ansari hinted at this plan last week amid escalating threats from President Trump regarding Iranian infrastructure if negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz falter. As the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress, Ansari expressed on X that "the rhetoric has crossed every line," asserting that "Hegseth is complicit."
"I've called for the 25th Amendment and am introducing Articles of Impeachment against Hegseth," Ansari stated.
Impeachment serves as the initial step toward removing officials from executive and judicial branches. The House must approve impeachment articles, which function similarly to charges in an indictment, while the Senate conducts a trial to determine guilt and potential removal from office.
Historically, only two Cabinet officials have faced impeachment: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. Belknap was acquitted, while Mayorkas saw charges dismissed shortly after trial commencement by the Senate's Democratic majority.
