Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, gave notice on the House floor Monday that he will offer a privileged resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It carries eight articles.
Three charge violations of the War Powers Resolution in the Iran war. The others cover civilian casualties, extrajudicial killings, the Maduro operation in Venezuela, strikes in Yemen, and alleged retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly for his statement on illegal orders. Every allegation in the Record is Massie’s, and none has been tested.
The Chair declined to say whether the resolution qualifies as privileged. That ruling comes when the House takes it up, which must happen within two legislative days. Republican leaders could seek to table it instead, IBTimes reported.
This is a second attempt. The Cape and Islands NPR station reported the first lapsed when Speaker Mike Johnson called an early recess before the election. Hegseth told reporters Monday he is “not worried.”
The Senate set up its own Iran vote. By unanimous consent, requested by Sen. Katie Britt, H. Con. Res. 93 directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran will be discharged from committee. It gets six hours of debate and a vote no later than Friday, November 20.
The Senate also voted 73 to 25 (Vote No. 257) to end debate on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2347. The bill, titled the Survivor Justice Tax Prevention Act, is a tax measure on damages for sexual acts. It is serving as the shell for the bipartisan permitting reform package, and post-cloture debate resumes Tuesday at noon.
On the House side, two nuclear bills passed under suspension with recorded votes. H.R. 3978 passed 397 to 2 (Roll No. 315) and H.R. 9612 passed 394 to 3 (Roll No. 316). H.R. 9613 and H.R. 9614 passed too.
H.R. 9614 lets the NRC chairman set pay for career senior executives at up to 110 percent of the normal ceiling. Rep. Frank Pallone said the agency has lost more than 10 percent of its workforce. The Record does not verify that figure.
Members also passed the annual veterans cost-of-living bill, H.R. 8552, effective December 1. Rep. Mark Takano gave notice of a discharge motion on H.Res. 1247, which concerns concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability compensation. Rep. Jason Crow filed Discharge Petition No. 28 on Afghan temporary protected status.
The Senate received nominations for CISA director (Michael LoSapio) and for the Federal Trade Commission (Christopher Mufarrige), and withdrew an earlier FTC nomination. Tuesday’s Commerce hearing includes Robert Steinau, nominated as NASA’s inspector general.
The House met from noon to 7:25 p.m. and the Senate from 3 p.m. to 6:49 p.m. Most of that time went to setting up votes for later.
