Arizona Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari announced Monday she’ll introduce articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him the “chief enabler of this illegal war” with Iran.
And she called on President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office, citing his Monday night threat to obliterate “a whole civilization" if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for the global oil supply.
Ansari argued Hegseth, as defense secretary, has thumbed his nose at Congress’ power to declare war — and in the process, Ansari accused Hegseth of war crimes for targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, including the bombing of a girl’s school in the country.
“Pete Hegseth has the duty to comply with the laws, lead by example for other military officials and uphold his commitment to the constitution above all else,” Ansari said in a prepared statement posted to X. “He has done none of that.”
I’m introducing Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth. Here’s why. pic.twitter.com/mMblG7tA7s
— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) April 7, 2026
In separate posts on X, Ansari also urged her Republican colleagues in Congress to speak out against what she describes as "apocalyptic" rhetoric by Trump, who’s made increasingly violent and vulgar threats against Iran in the past few days.
Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or else “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back,” the president wrote on his social media platform.
“Donald Trump is threatening genocide and war crimes against the Iranian civilian population,” she wrote on X.
“This is a grave moment in world history and we should all be doing everything in our power to stop him.”
Ansari previously cosponsored articles of impeachment against former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in January.
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