Thomas Massie
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Kentucky, introducing articles of impeachment against the Secretary of Defense
Condemned
Statement summary
In Article V of the impeachment resolution he introduced on September 15, Massie alleged that Hegseth subjected people "merely suspected of criminal conduct to lethal military force without judicial process" and "without establishing a lawful basis for treating such persons or vessels as military targets". The article also alleges that Hegseth's targeting guidelines "did not require the presence of weapons or narcotics on targeted vessels".
“By subjecting persons merely suspected of criminal conduct to lethal military force without judicial process, without Congressional authorization, and without establishing a lawful basis for treating such persons or vessels as military targets, Secretary Hegseth arrogated to himself and the Executive Branch the roles of judge, jury, and executioner and asserted a unilateral power to determine who may live and who may die. … did not require the presence of weapons or narcotics on targeted vessels alleged to be smuggling narcotics in association with a DTO.”