Thomas Massie Claims GOP Leaders Feared Republicans Would Back Hegseth Impeachment

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accused Republican leaders in the House of Representatives of sending the legislative body to an early recess because they found “other Republicans” who would join his push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on the House floor on Tuesday, accusing the Pentagon chief of “high crimes and misdemeanors” over his handling of U.S. military operations in Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen, among other actions.

On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent the House into early recess rather than put the articles up for a vote.

Massie joined CNN’s The Source later on Wednesday, ripping his colleagues to host Kaitlan Collins.

“I know it was,” the outgoing congressman told Collins when asked if his impeachment was why the House went into early recess. “If there was any other reason that they canceled tomorrow’s day of session, they could have had the Hegseth vote tonight… [Johnson] could have had the vote yesterday as soon as I introduced the articles; he could have done it today before he adjourned Congress.”

“What would have happened, do you think, if they had voted on it tonight?” Collins asked.

“That’s a great question,” Massie responded. “The fact that they didn’t vote on it tells me that they did a whip check, and they probably found that there were some other Republicans — besides me — that were gonna vote for this, or at least didn’t wanna be on the record supporting Hegseth.”

Just two weeks ago, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told CNN, “I agree with the sentiments of Sen. [Thom] Tillis [R-NC],” who posted a call for President Donald Trump to fire Hegseth.

A snippet of Tillis’ long-winded post read:

I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country. [Hegseth] is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force.

I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it.

Watch above on CNN.

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