Hegseth faces expected US congressional impeachment

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, calls himself the secretary of war, part of his effort to rebrand a military he said was too weak and "woke" when he took office last year.



Now, with a House impeachment vote expected this week, he could soon share something in common with an actual secretary of war.



William Belknap, who held that title in 1876, became the first, and to date only, civilian leader of the US military to be impeached by Congress.



US Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced articles of impeachment on Monday, setting off a two-day clock for an expected House vote on charges including waging war against Iran without congressional approval and other abuses of power.



Congressional sources say the resolution may have the simple majority needed to pass the Republican-controlled House before Democrats take over on January 3.



Conviction appears unlikely in the Senate, however, where a two-thirds majority is required and Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats.



House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the effort, saying impeachment “in the middle of hostilities abroad” would be “a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see.”