Tillis ‘leaning toward’ impeaching Hegseth if articles reach Senate

Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Tuesday he’s prepared to vote to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should the House pass an impeachment resolution against the Pentagon chief this week, setting up the Senate for a full trial.

“If it comes over, if there’s a vote, I’m likely to vote against Hegseth and for the impeachment,” Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill.

“To me it’s a no-confidence vote for him. The best thing that we can do is move him along, get somebody in there that can help. Look, we’re struggling to get defense spending, and I lay that at his feet,” he added.

Tillis is one of at least six Senate Republicans who have entertained a full Senate trial for Hegseth after outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced eight articles of impeachment against him Monday.

Massie is forcing a vote this week to remove Hegseth under the articles, accusing the Defense secretary of abusing his powers with regards to several miliary operations throughout the second Trump administration, including the war in Iran, and strikes on suspected drug carrying boats around South America.

Hegseth responded in a news conference at the Pentagon Tuesday morning, calling Massie a “disgruntled and defeated congressman” and the impeachment “a political spectacle.” Massie lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year.

Also keeping their minds open to a trial are GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), John Curtis (Utah), John Cornyn (Texas), John Boozman (Ark.) and Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.).

House GOP leadership is working furiously behind the scenes to kill Massie’s push by burying the Hegseth resolution in committee vote Tuesday evening. But if it ultimately passes, a Senate trial would be the next step.

The White House also is reportedly working behind the scenes to call on loyalists in Congress to kill the resolution.

With Republicans controlling the House until January, Tuesday’s impeachment vote needs at least a few Republicans to vote with Democrats for the resolution to succeed.