Representative Sara Jacobs said Tuesday, November 10, that she would vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of overseeing unlawful military operations in Iran, Yemen and the Caribbean and Pacific. Jacobs’ statement came after Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, prompting renewed congressional scrutiny of the secretary’s conduct.
Jacobs published her statement on X while responding to NBC News reporting titled “GOP Rep. Thomas Massie unveils impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.” The article described Massie’s impeachment effort and the potential House floor vote.
Jacobs’ full post:
“I will vote YES to impeach Secretary Pete Hegseth. His rap sheet includes the illegal Iran war, illegal strikes in Yemen (where he mishandled classified information via Signal), and over 200 murders in boat strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific. He’s dangerous and needs to go.”
NBC News reported that Massie had introduced eight articles of impeachment, largely centered on the Iran war and additional military operations. The resolution alleged that Hegseth exceeded his authority, including by continuing military action without congressional authorization.
The impeachment process requires the House to approve the articles by a simple majority. If approved, the matter would move to the Senate, where conviction and removal would require a two-thirds vote.
Jacobs’ opposition to the Iran war predates the impeachment announcement. On February 28, 2026, she issued an official statement condemning Trump’s strikes against Iran, describing the operation as an unauthorized military action and warning of the risks of another prolonged Middle East conflict.
Jacobs argued that the strikes could put American servicemembers at risk, waste taxpayer money and lead to another regime-change war. She called on Congress to return to Washington and vote on war powers resolutions.
Jacobs also raised concerns about civilian casualties during the Iran campaign. In March 2026, she joined Representatives Yassamin Ansari and Jason Crow in sending a letter to Defense Secretary Hegseth demanding information about civilian harm and the military’s efforts to prevent it.
The lawmakers highlighted reports that an Iranian girls’ elementary school had been struck, killing at least 175 civilians, many of them children. The letter questioned whether the Pentagon was complying with the laws of armed conflict and civilian-protection policies.
Jacobs’ criticism of Hegseth also extends to the administration’s military operations in Yemen. Her November 10 post specifically cited the Yemen strikes and allegations that classified information was mishandled through Signal.
The impeachment reporting identifies Yemen as one of the military campaigns cited in Massie’s resolution. Jacobs’ post places the Yemen allegations alongside her objections to the Iran war and the administration’s maritime strikes.
Jacobs has also publicly opposed the administration’s lethal strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats. In December 2025, she voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, criticizing the measure for failing to impose sufficient restrictions on Trump’s military deployments and boat strikes.
In her official statement, Jacobs said the legislation did not adequately stop the administration from “murdering people by illegally blowing boats out of the ocean without any public evidence, due process, or legal justification.”
The maritime operations have also prompted congressional oversight. Lawmakers have questioned the legal basis for lethal strikes against suspected drug vessels and whether the administration has provided sufficient evidence that those killed were combatants rather than civilians or individuals involved in criminal activity.
Jacobs’ statement uses the phrase “over 200 murders” to characterize the deaths associated with the boat strikes. That is her accusation; the number and legal characterization should be distinguished from independently established findings.
Jacobs has separately pressed the Pentagon for information on civilian casualties during the U.S. military operation in Venezuela. On March 6, 2026, she and Representative Joaquin Castro sent a letter to SOUTHCOM seeking information about civilian harm during Operation Absolute Resolve.
The letter requested information about the military’s mitigation and response plans, including procedures for investigating civilian casualties. It reflected Jacobs’ broader congressional work on civilian protection during armed conflict.
The impeachment allegations concerning Iran, Yemen, Venezuela and maritime strikes are separate charges involving different legal and factual questions. Jacobs’ statement grouped them together as evidence that she believes Hegseth should no longer lead the Pentagon.
Her record includes opposition to the Iran campaign, votes against defense legislation she believes insufficiently restricts the administration, and letters demanding greater transparency over civilian casualties.
The House impeachment effort is now a central test of congressional oversight of the Defense Department. Jacobs has publicly committed to supporting the resolution, arguing that the secretary’s military decisions and handling of classified information warrant removal from office.