Massie Sets Nov. 9 Vote On Hegseth Removal As Democrats Ready Articles

House lawmakers from both parties are moving toward a vote on removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with the timing set days after voters go to the polls.

Democratic leadership has been preparing its case for weeks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told a Pennsylvania rally earlier this month that if Democrats take the majority, "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town." Rep. Pramila Jayapal called Hegseth "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" in a CNN interview, and Rep. Jared Huffman described him as an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office." The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that House Democrats have drafted articles of impeachment and would move if the midterm elections leave them in control of the chamber.

The effort is not limited to Democrats. In September, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who has criticized the war on Iran and U.S. aid to Israel, filed his own impeachment articles against Hegseth. Massie accused the defense secretary of carrying out an order for hostilities against Iran without congressional approval, calling that an abuse of his office.

Hegseth's overseas travel has also drawn attention. He met privately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Israel's Ovda air base on Monday, days before Israel's election, two sources confirmed to Walla on Tuesday. Hegseth confirmed the visit to Reuters but declined to discuss what the two discussed. KAN News reported Tuesday that Iran was the main subject. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was present, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior Israeli officials were not invited, for confidentiality reasons.

Massie has said he will force a vote on his impeachment articles shortly after the House returns to session on Nov. 9, the week after the elections. Democrats have not set a date for their own vote, and the Journal reported their case would move forward if the party emerges from the midterms in a strong position.