US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expected to face impeachment vote launched by Republican

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had articles of impeachment launched against him on Nov. 9, for allegations including his role overseeing the Iran war.

The articles were introduced by a fellow Republican, Kentucky representative Thomas Massie.

They come just about a week after the Republicans' overwhelming defeat at the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.

Impeachment

According to the Washington Post, Massie's articles alleged that the Iran war was unconstitutional because the conflict was initiated by the Trump Administration without lawmakers' approval.

Military action has also continued despite the U.S. Congress demanding for the Pentagon to lay down arms, he alleged.

Strikes were even launched by the U.S. against Iran just a day before the midterms and after the midterms.

Top Republican officials, including U.S. vice-president JD Vance, have blamed the Iran war on the party's crushing defeat at the polls.

In a nearly one-and-a-half-hour speech on the U.S. House floor on Nov. 9, Massie accused Hegseth of abusing his powers and knowingly executing and implementing "unlawful orders" by carrying out strikes against Iran.

He added that Hegseth will "remain a threat to the constitution if allowed to remain in office".

The House is expected to vote on Hegseth's fate at the White House within days, CNN reported.

According to party sources, Massie's call for impeachment is expected to pass.

Trump backs Hegseth

U.S. president Donald Trump has backed the Defense Secretary, stating that "he won two wars", referring to the Iran war and U.S. capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

According to The Guardian, he also called Massie a "stone cold loser" and his impeachment effort a "sham".

Hegseth, meanwhile, said in a social media video that he would fight back against the allegations.

Referring to previous attempts to impeach Trump, he said, "It didn't work against President Trump, and it won't work with me."

He also expressed his confidence in fellow Republicans' support against the impeachment, saying "we're not worried about that".