Massie predicts Hegseth resignation as Trump rejects impeachment effort

Representative Thomas Massie said on Monday that War Secretary Pete Hegseth is more likely to resign by the end of the year than face Democrat-led hearings when the new Congress is sworn in. Massie told CNN that he expects Democrats to take an aggressive approach in January. The Washington Examiner reported Massie's remarks following his introduction of articles of impeachment against Hegseth earlier in the day. [1][5][7]

President Donald Trump attacked Massie as a loser and vowed to stand by Hegseth despite the impeachment effort, according to the Daily Mail, CNN, and the Washington Examiner. Trump said he has every intention of keeping Hegseth in charge of the department. For his part, Hegseth said on Monday that the department is not worried about the effort and that he has no plans to step down, the Washington Examiner reported. [2][3][4]

The House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on the impeachment resolution filed by Massie, according to CNBC and PBS NewsHour. The Daily Mail reported that Massie cited high crimes and misdemeanors, the kidnapping of a foreign leader, and the failure to minimize civilian casualties as grounds for Hegseth's removal. The Washington Examiner noted that Massie suggested Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential replacement if Hegseth is ousted. [2][5][6][7]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Massie previously filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September before reintroducing them on Monday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed strong support for impeaching Hegseth following recent Democratic election victories, accusing the defense secretary of abusing power and engineering an unauthorized war in Iran. [8][16][17]