1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

On September 15, Rep. Thomas Massie — a Republican — introduced privileged articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor. When a member of the President's own party formally accuses his administration's Pentagon chief of "high crimes and misdemeanors," Congress cannot treat it as a partisan sideshow. The Constitution gives Congress, not the executive branch, the exclusive authority to declare war and oversee military departments. Massie's articles lay out a detailed case that this authority has been systematically ignored. The allegations go directly to the core of our constitutional order: - Unchecked Executive War-Making: Massie's articles charge that the Iran war was unlawful from its inception, lacking any declaration of war, statutory authorization, attack on the United States, or imminent threat — a direct violation of Article I, Section 8. - Defiance of Bicameral Directives: The articles accuse Hegseth of disobeying Congress after both chambers directed the removal of troops from Iran, and of continuing hostilities after the War Powers Resolution's 60-day statutory termination period expired. - Erosion of the Rule of Law and Oversight: The articles charge Hegseth with refusing to minimize civilian casualties, replacing lawful maritime interdiction with unauthorized lethal strikes on suspected drug traffickers, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly for telling service members they can refuse unlawful orders. - Procedural Inaction in Congress: Procedural maneuvers allow leadership to bury, table, or shelve impeachment efforts without a recorded vote, shielding lawmakers from having to go on the record. Congress cannot continue to let procedural evasion substitute for constitutional oversight. I urge you to use your position to hold Secretary Hegseth accountable for these actions: 1. Reject Procedural Shelving: Oppose any effort to bury, table, or quietly dismiss these impeachment charges, ensuring the allegations receive an open, public hearing. 2. Commit to Recorded Accountability: Demand recorded, up-or-down floor votes and an uncompromised constitutional process so every lawmaker is held publicly accountable on the record. 3. Assert Congressional War Powers: Exercise the power of the purse to strictly cut off appropriations and funding for any military operations that lack affirmative congressional authorization. 4. Protect Whistleblowers and Oversight Rights: Enforce robust safeguards to protect service members, veterans, and lawmakers from administrative retaliation when reporting misconduct or defending their constitutional oath. A member of the President's own party has formally placed these grave allegations into the congressional record. I ask that you prioritize your oath to the Constitution over partisan loyalty and work proactively to hold Secretary Hegseth accountable.