WASHINGTON – US House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanours” including waging war on Iran without congressional approval.
The impeachment resolution is led by Yassamin Ansari, a Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona, and has slim chances of passing due to the Republican majority in the House.
Impeachment is the process by which the US House of Representatives brings charges against a government official for alleged wrongdoing, and removal from office is possible only if the Senate convicts after a trial.
“I’ve introduced Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for violating his oath, endangering U.S. servicemembers, and committing war crimes, including attacks on civilians and a girls’ school in Minab, Iran,” Ansari wrote on X.
“Only Congress can declare war; his actions demand immediate removal.”
The War in the Middle East has sent oil prices soaring and dented Trump’s approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections in November.
The first impeachment article alleged that Hegseth started the conflict with Iran “without a declaration of war or specific statutory authorisation by Congress,” and “knowingly exposing members of the Armed Forces of the United States to substantial and foreseeable risk of injury or death.”
Another article held Hegseth responsible for the strike on an Iranian primary school on 28 February, the day the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, which killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.
The New York Times has reported that the preliminary findings of a US military investigation indicate that a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake. Defence Secretary Hegseth has “authorised, condoned, or failed to prevent the use of military force in a manner inconsistent with the law of armed conflict,” such as the strike on the school, the document read.
The Democrats also criticised Hegseth for so-called “double tap” strikes, hitting targets twice against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean.
They said the double tap strikes were illegal and undermined rules of engagement designed to protect non-combatants. –Nampa/AFP