U.S. Lawmaker Seeks to Impeach Defense Secretary Over Iran Actions

A U.S. congresswoman has launched a formal effort to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office. Representative Yassamin Ansari announced she is introducing "Articles of Impeachment" against Hegseth. She accuses the secretary of being "complicit" in what she calls an "illegal war" with Iran. Impeachment is the constitutional process for charging a high-ranking official with misconduct. The move by Ansari, a Democrat, is the first such attempt against Hegseth. The articles allege the Defense Secretary helped plan and execute military operations in Iran without congressional approval. Such approval is required by U.S. law to declare war. The effort faces significant political hurdles. It would require majority support in the House of Representatives to proceed. It would then need a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict and remove Hegseth. The Defense Department has not yet issued a public response to the impeachment move.