FIRST ON FOX: Some House Democrats are leaving the door open to additional articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of military aid to Ukraine, according to lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital after a failed impeachment effort led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
But a conservative legal expert suggested the renewed impeachment push may be less about removing Hegseth from office than discouraging conservatives from serving in future Republican administrations.
Massie, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital that while he could not substantiate allegations that Hegseth improperly withheld military assistance to Ukraine, he believes Democrats will investigate the matter and potentially introduce additional articles of impeachment when they take control of Congress in January.
“I believe [Democrats] may use some of the same articles of impeachment when they’re in the majority, but I also believe there are gonna be some other articles of impeachment based on hearings and committees,” Massie told Fox News Digital. “I think the Democrats will do that.”
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“I heard that as one of the complaints that wasn’t in my impeachment resolution,” Massie added.
Massie acknowledged that another impeachment effort could be largely symbolic if the Senate fails to convict Hegseth, but argued that the proceedings could still pressure the war secretary to resign.
While impeachment requires a simple majority in the House, conviction and removal from office require a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
Massie said he hopes a Democratic-controlled Senate would hold a trial if the House impeaches Hegseth.
“So there’s still a reason to proceed,” Massie said.
His remarks came after the House rejected his effort Tuesday to impeach Hegseth over military operations against Iran and suspected drug smugglers in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without congressional authorization.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, while the president, as commander in chief, has authority to direct military operations. The extent to which a president can initiate hostilities without congressional authorization remains legally disputed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also called on the House Monday to impeach Hegseth and urged the Senate to hold a trial to remove him from office.
Schumer did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Zach Smith, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, criticized Democrats’ plans to pursue impeachment and potential prosecution of Trump administration officials, calling the efforts an “unfortunate waste of time” given the two-thirds Senate majority required to convict and remove an impeached official.
Smith argued, however, that Democrats are prioritizing impeachment proceedings to discourage conservatives from serving in future Republican administrations, not to actually remove Hegseth.
He added that the efforts would also divert congressional attention from “the many very important issues that our country is facing today,” including concerns Democrats campaigned on ahead of the midterm elections, such as driving down the cost of living.
“Not only does this mean that the House and the Senate will have to take time away from the legislative activities they should be focusing on, but it will also make it more difficult for members of the Trump administration to do their duties as well, because they’ll have to be dealing with these requests and other efforts by Congress,” Smith told Fox News Digital.
Despite Smith’s concerns, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., echoed Massie’s expectations, telling Fox News Digital that she anticipates congressional oversight committees will investigate Hegseth’s handling of military assistance to Ukraine.
Grijalva said she expects congressional committees to hold hearings examining Hegseth’s handling of Ukraine funding.
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“This is an issue that will come up again, because once we have more information into how bad his handling has been, we will likely have more movement and possibly more articles of impeachment,” Grijalva told Fox News Digital.
The Arizona Democrat, who described herself as “a big believer in process and getting the facts out,” argued that voters sent a clear message during the 2026 midterm elections.
Grijalva said Americans spoke “very clearly” when they voted, signaling that “they want to put an end to the corruption.”
Fox News Digital could not independently verify the allegation that Hegseth improperly withheld Ukraine funding or engaged in any wrongdoing related to the matter.
Hegseth did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Rep.-elect Scott Wiener, D-Calif., told Fox News Digital that he had “no idea” whether additional impeachment articles would be introduced and was unaware of evidence supporting the allegations. However, he expressed support for removing Hegseth from office.
“I will fully support impeaching him,” Wiener told Fox News Digital. “He’s a disaster to our military and our country.”
Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of pursuing politically motivated impeachment proceedings against Trump administration officials.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital following Tuesday’s vote that he was “not surprised” by Democrats’ interest in impeaching Hegseth.
Mast argued that Democrats were determined to impeach “anyone who was appointed by the president,” regardless of whether evidence supported the allegations.
The discussions come as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress in January, giving the party greater power to launch investigations, hold hearings and pursue impeachment proceedings.