Republican lawmaker vows House vote on Hegseth impeachment
Massie said he would drop the effort if Hegseth resigns, and he expects a House vote when Congress returns next week.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said on Wednesday he will bring back impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unless the Pentagon chief leaves office, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Massie said he would not revive the articles if Hegseth resigns, and he posted that condition on the social media platform X.
He told CNN he intends to force a House vote when lawmakers return next week, and several Republican sources told the network they expect the measure to pass.
Massie also told CNN that the midterm losses were avoidable and blamed the party's close loyalty to President Donald Trump.
CNN reported, citing White House officials, that Trump has told aides Hegseth should push back against impeachment efforts and any investigations into his decisions.
On Wednesday, Trump dismissed reports that he was weighing a replacement for Hegseth, telling reporters the secretary was "doing a very good job."
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth will not be intimidated by politicians seeking partisan gain.
Parnell added that Hegseth remains committed to running the department until the end of Trump's term.
Earlier on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said the Iran war was the main reason Republicans lost the midterm elections.
Impeachment articles against a federal official move forward in the House with a simple majority vote, which is the step Massie plans to trigger.
