You Can't Throw the Word "Impeachment" Around

OP-ED | OPINION

Rep. Thomas Massie's eight articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth don't name an impeachable offense, and the Constitution is clear about what one is.

By Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press

Let me explain something to Rep. Thomas Massie, because apparently somebody has to: you can't throw the word "impeachment" around if you don't know what you're talking about.

On Monday, the Kentucky Republican went to the House floor and reintroduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He first filed them in September. He filed them as privileged, so House leaders now have to bring them up for a vote within two legislative days. And he made his case with words like "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Massie's announcement and the resolution are public, and anyone can read them. Here's my view: none of what Hegseth did is impeachable.

What Massie Is Actually Charging

Here's what's on the table. Massie's resolution lays out eight articles. The first three accuse Hegseth of violating three different sections of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 by carrying out the war with Iran without a declaration of war or congressional authorization, and by continuing it after Congress's deadlines ran out. The other five cover strikes on suspected drug boats; the operation that seized Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela; military action in Yemen; laws meant to minimize civilian casualties; and alleged retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly for his speech.

Massie's own summary is blunt. "By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable," he said.

So this is a Republican talking about impeaching Hegseth because he doesn't like the war in Iran. He's entitled to that opinion. But an opinion about a war is not an impeachable offense.

What the Constitution Says

The bar is written down. Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says civil officers "shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Massie quotes that exact line in his own resolution.

Treason. Bribery. Something on that level. You need an impeachable offense to have been committed. You don't get to start with the word and then go looking for a reason to use it.

Hegseth, for his part, says he isn't concerned. Asked Monday whether he had enough Republican support to defeat the effort, he told reporters, "We're not worried about that," and said he would answer at a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday.

The Weaponization Double Standard

Look at the timing. Last week, voters handed Democrats what the New York Post called a "blue tsunami." Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress. They even won Texas: Democrat James Talarico won the U.S. Senate seat there, beating Ken Paxton, and ended a 32-year Republican winning streak in Texas statewide races.

Fine. That's the way it is. That's how elections work.

But here's the thing. For years, we heard Democrats complain that Republicans were weaponizing the government. Then, the second they won, what was the message? Sen. Ron Wyden posted one word on election night: "Subpoenas." Rep. Robert Garcia, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, posted "LAWYER UP." Rep. Analilia Mejia put it plainest: "We're going to toss out subpoenas like Mardi Gras beads." And that's the same weaponizing they spent years warning us about.

Massie himself sees what's coming. "My effort to impeach Secretary Hegseth is a much gentler version of what's coming when the Democrats assume control of the House and Senate next year," he said Monday. "They will hold hearings and trials."

So now a Republican is helping start that pile-on before the new Congress even sits. That's my problem with this. People don't care about the standard. They throw the words around because they're in charge. Like Dan Bongino always says, it's a hierarchy: we matter, you don't. And the rest of us are supposed to sit back and take it.

Remember Who Works for Who

We shouldn't sit back. As I always say, remember who works for who.

Call your elected officials, Republican or Democrat. Remind them that they work for you, not the other way around. Tell them that impeachment is a constitutional tool with a constitutional standard. It isn't a press release, a campaign slogan or a way to get even after an election.

If someone commits treason or takes a bribe, impeach them. That's what the clause is there for. But if the charge really comes down to "I don't like this war," that isn't treason, and it isn't bribery.

Words matter. "Impeachment" is one of the heaviest words in our system. When everyone throws it around, it stops meaning anything.

Hold Everyone Accountable.

Yossi Schmidt is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Digital Free Press (TDFP). The views expressed here are his own.

Sources: https://massie.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395863 ; https://massie.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hegseth_articles_of_impeachment.pdf ; https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript ; https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/thomas-massie-pete-hegseth-impeachment-house-defense-rcna597989 ; https://nypost.com/2026/11/09/us-news/rep-thomas-massie-reintroduces-impeachment-articles-against-pete-hegseth-over-iran-war/ ; https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/us-news/5-takeaways-from-democrats-historic-midterm-blue-tsunami/ ; https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/11/03/565938/talarico-paxton-senate-race-texas-results/ ; https://x.com/RonWyden/status/2117830246342828496 ; https://x.com/RepRobertGarcia/status/2117818643342041235

Photos: Pete Hegseth, DoD/Chad J. McNeeley (public domain); Thomas Massie, House Creative Services (public domain); U.S. Capitol, Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.