U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is keeping his options open on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying he will judge each of the eight charges on its own merits as the House takes a procedural vote Tuesday evening.
“The decision to impeach is a serious one,” Golden’s office said in a statement. “As he did on previous impeachment proceedings, he will vote on each article independently and on the merits.”
That is how the centrist Democrat and Marine veteran from Maine’s 2nd District handled President Donald Trump’s first impeachment in 2019, when he voted for the abuse of power charge and against the obstruction of Congress charge. Golden, who is leaving Congress in January, has also pressured Hegseth on security and budget matters.
Maine’s other House member has made up her mind. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a progressive from the 1st District, who won a 10th term last week, called for Hegseth’s removal in an election night speech and said Tuesday she will vote to impeach.
If Tuesday’s vote advances, the charges brought by outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a former Trump ally turned bitter rival, will be weighed by the full House on Wednesday or Thursday. Most Democrats are expected to vote in favor.
The impeachment push, which Hegseth on Tuesday blasted as a “farce” from “one disgruntled and defeated congressman,” comes as Democrats who routed Republicans in last week’s midterm elections have pledged to launch investigations into the Trump administration.
Massie charges that Hegseth violated the Constitution by failing to get congressional approval before launching the Iran war and defying several votes to end it. He also accuses Hegseth of sidestepping laws to prevent civilian deaths, including more than 100 children at an elementary school in Iran on the first day of bombing in February.
Further charges allege Hegseth oversaw extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers on boats, the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro “under the guise of narcotics law enforcement,” and retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, one of several veteran Democrats who reminded troops in a video last year that they can refuse illegal orders.
“It’s a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment,” Hegseth said in a rare news conference Tuesday.
Pingree said the administration kept the war going past the War Powers Act’s 60-day limit without congressional authority. She called the civilian deaths charge particularly damning.
“He has defunded offices in the Pentagon that track and respond to where civilians are … a critically basic function,” she said. “It’s a war crime and morally wrong.”
Republican House leaders may try to block the vote. Pingree said the outcome could hinge on House absences, which she expected to favor Democrats this week with more Republicans away from Washington.
If the House impeaches Hegseth, Senate GOP leaders could try to dismiss the charges or refer them to a committee. The Senate has never convicted an impeached Cabinet member, which would require a two-thirds vote.
A trial could give Democratic Sen.-elect Troy Jackson an early chance to act on his critiques of the Iran war, depending on whether it comes before or after he is sworn in.
“Congress has to do oversight, has to watch what’s going on and be part of the process,” Jackson told MSNOW on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, Republicans let that go over the last two years, and we have to take it back.”
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican whom Jackson ousted in last week’s election, voted against Hegseth’s confirmation and has joined Democrats in several votes to end the Iran war, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Independent Sen. Angus King’s office said it was too early to discuss charges still pending in the House.