Massie Forces Privileged House Vote on Hegseth Impeachment Articles Over Iran War

Update, Tuesday evening: The House voted 211-204 to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, a procedural step that shelves the impeachment effort this session. Full story: House Votes 211-204 to Refer Hegseth Impeachment to Committee, Shelving Massie's Resolution.

Status: Massie filed a privileged impeachment resolution; the House acted Tuesday evening. Republicans can move to table the resolution or refer it to committee. NBC News has not heard from any Republicans other than Massie who have committed to backing it.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) reintroduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, NBC News reported. Three of the charges, Massie said, relate to alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The first article, according to Massie's press release as quoted by NBC, "charges Secretary Hegseth with waging the Iran war despite no declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat." The release added: "It establishes that the war was unlawful from its inception."

Congress's war-powers authority is a constitutional question whether the president is a Republican or a Democrat. Article I gives Congress the power to declare war. The War Powers Resolution sets conditions on introducing U.S. forces into hostilities when Congress has not declared war. Those authorities, and how they apply to the Iran war, are the dispute Massie has put on the floor. Filing articles is not the same as the House adopting them.

A privileged vote, not a foregone result

Because Massie filed the measure as privileged, House leaders must bring it up within two legislative days, NBC reported. The House could vote as early as 5:30 p.m. ET Tuesday. The floor schedule lists a possible "procedural motion relating" to the resolution, meaning a Republican could move to table it or refer it to committee. Either motion requires a majority and, if it succeeds, would prevent a vote on the impeachment resolution itself. A vote on impeachment would also take a majority. Massie said Monday he does not know whether his measure has the votes to advance. NBC News has not heard from any Republicans other than Massie who have committed to backing impeachment.

Trump and Hegseth

President Trump, asked on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal Primetime" about Republicans possibly voting with Democrats to impeach Hegseth, said: "Well, I'd be disappointed in them. Look, Pete has won two wars."

Hegseth, asked Monday whether he had enough Republican support to defeat an impeachment effort, said, "We're not worried about that." He said he would hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday morning. NBC reported Tuesday that the news conference was scheduled to address Massie's effort.

Iran coverage: Trump Says Iran War Ending 'Fairly Soon'; IDF Preparing Two Scenarios.

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