00:00.
00:16Pete Hegseth could be facing an impeachment battle just days after the U.S. midterm elections.
00:22And this time, the threat isn't coming only from Democrats.
00:25A Republican lawmaker is preparing to bring the fight directly to the House floor, putting
00:31Donald Trump's defense secretary under growing pressure over the war in Iran.
00:35Republican Congressman Thomas Massey of Kentucky is planning to revive his impeachment push
00:41against Hegseth in the post-election lame duck session.
00:45Massey first introduced eight articles of impeachment in September, accusing the defense secretary
00:50of serious misconduct, with the central allegations focused on the U.S. war against Iran.
00:56At the heart of the dispute is the question of congressional authority.
01:00Massey argues that Trump launched military operations against Iran without authorization
01:05from Congress, potentially violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
01:11His impeachment articles also challenge the continuation of hostilities beyond legal limits,
01:16and accuse Hegseth of defying congressional efforts to end U.S. involvement.
01:21And the financial cost of the conflict is adding to the pressure.
01:25Pentagon figures provided to Congress put the operational cost of the Iran war at approximately
01:31$47.1 billion by mid-October.
01:34That is more than 25 percent higher than the $37.5 billion estimate Hegseth gave in July.
01:41Around $29 billion of the total is reportedly tied to replacing ammunition and other weapons
01:48already expended.
01:49The human cost is also mounting.
01:52Official Pentagon figures in October placed U.S. military deaths at between 21 and 23, depending
01:58on the reporting date and inclusion of non-hostile deaths, while the number of wounded stood at
02:03approximately 865.
02:06More than half of those wounded were reportedly recorded after early July.
02:10And Massey is not the only Republican questioning Hegseth.
02:15Republican Senator Tom Tillis has called his vote to confirm Hegseth the biggest regret of
02:20his career.
02:21Tillis has also urged that the defense secretary be replaced or resign, raising concerns about
02:26his leadership and handling of the Iran war.
02:30Massey's earlier impeachment effort did not reach a vote.
02:33House Republican leadership delayed the process by adjourning early ahead of the midterm elections.
02:38But on October 26th, Massey confirmed that he intends to reintroduce the articles and force
02:44a vote during the lame duck session, expected in the week of November 9th or shortly afterward,
02:50provided Hegseth is still in office.
02:52Massey has even suggested that the measure has a better than 50 percent chance of passing.
02:57He is counting on near-unanimous Democratic support, along with the possibility of Republican lawmakers
03:03joining the effort after the elections.
03:05The November 3rd midterms could therefore become a major turning point.
03:10Democrats have signaled that if they win control of the House, they will aggressively pursue Hegseth's
03:16removal.
03:16But even if Republicans retain their majority, Massey's privilege resolution could still
03:21force a floor vote.
03:23And through all of this, Hegseth continues to have one powerful supporter — Donald Trump.
03:28The president has repeatedly defended his defense secretary, describing him as a great warrior,
03:34saying he is doing a great job and calling him the best at his job in many years.
03:39Trump has also dismissed the impeachment threat as terrible.
03:42That leaves Hegseth caught between Trump's backing and growing scrutiny from lawmakers,
03:48including members of his own party.
03:50The fight is no longer just about Hegseth's leadership — it is increasingly about the authority
03:55to take the United States to war, the financial burden on taxpayers, and the human cost paid
04:01by American service members.
04:17Transcription by CastingWords
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