Thomas Massie has accused US defense secretary of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers

Pete Hegseth has dismissed a bid to impeach him as a “political spectacle”, accusing the Republican lawmaker who moved to force a vote of trying to stage a “show trial”.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the US defense secretary – accused of illegally waging war without congressional authorization, and abusing his powers – claimed he was simply being pursued by political opponents of Donald Trump.