Hegseth removal papers drafted as vote timing hinges on Nov. 3 results

House Democrats have drafted articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, setting the stage for a potential removal vote in early November. The party plans to move forward with the process only if it secures a stronger position in the House after the midterm elections.

The strategy was outlined by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town," Jeffries said. Other lawmakers have used similar language to describe their stance on the secretary's performance.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal characterized Hegseth as "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" in a recent interview. Rep. Jared Huffman went further, labeling the defense secretary an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office." These remarks align with the formal groundwork being laid by the party leadership.

Pressure for Hegseth's removal is not limited to the Democratic caucus. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment in September. Massie accused Hegseth of abusing his office by ordering military hostilities against Iran without prior approval from Congress. Massie intends to force a floor vote shortly after the House returns to session on Nov. 9.

The legislative maneuvering occurs alongside increased scrutiny of Hegseth's recent foreign trips. The defense secretary held a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base on Monday. This visit took place days before the Israeli election. Hegseth confirmed the meeting occurred but declined to discuss the specific details of their conversation.

According to reporting from KAN News, the primary topic of the discussion was Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz attended the meeting. Senior Israeli military officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, were excluded from the session to maintain confidentiality. The next step in the domestic process is the return of the House to session on Nov. 9.

The timing of the impeachment vote is directly tied to the outcome of the Nov. 3 elections. Democrats have indicated they will launch the process if they emerge from the vote in a strong position. Massie’s plan to force a vote the following week provides a specific date for the potential action.