Articles of impeachment
Executive summary
Multiple impeachment efforts are active in late 2025: House resolutions accusing President Donald J. Trump of various high crimes and misdemeanors (including at least two separate resolutions with multiple articles) and at least one House Democrat, Rep. Shri Thanedar, has introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accusing him of murder, conspiracy to murder, and mishandling classified information [1] [2] [3] [4]. These moves so far appear largely symbolic: previous or parallel attempts by Democrats (including Rep. Al Green) have failed to gain the support of House Democratic leadership and are unlikely to pass while Republicans control the chamber [5] [6] [7].
1. What “articles of impeachment” are and who has filed them now
Articles of impeachment are the formal, written charges the House of Representatives can bring against a federal official; if adopted they constitute impeachment and send the matter to the Senate for trial (available sources do not mention a formal constitutional definition beyond this in current reporting). In 2025 there are at least two named House resolutions targeting President Trump—H.Res.353 described as setting forth seven articles including obstruction, bribery and “tyranny,” and H.Res.537, another multi-article text alleging high crimes and misdemeanors tied to uses of force and abuse of power [1] [2]. Separately, Rep. Shri Thanedar has authored and publicly announced articles against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth alleging murder, conspiracy to murder, and reckless mishandling of classified information [3] [4] [8].
2. The charges against President Trump in currently filed resolutions
Congressional text and summaries show at least seven distinct accusations in H.Res.353—spanning obstruction of justice, usurpation of Congress’s appropriations power, abuse of trade and international aggression, First Amendment violations, creation of an unlawful office, bribery and corruption, and “tyranny” [1]. H.Res.537’s published text similarly frames a set of articles alleging unilateral use of force without congressional authorization, denial of due process, and threats to democratic norms [2]. These are broad, politically weighty allegations that mirror political debates over executive power and foreign military action in 2025 [2].
3. Thanedar’s impeachment push against Hegseth — facts and political reaction
Thanedar’s office publicly announced he wrote articles accusing Secretary Hegseth of murder and conspiracy to murder and of leaking sensitive operational details that endangered lives; Thanedar said Hegseth is “uniquely unqualified” and must be removed [3]. Coverage in The Hill and Axios confirms Thanedar’s filing and notes that House Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, has dismissed the practical viability of the effort, saying Republicans control the floor and would block bringing such articles to a vote [4] [8] [7]. The Pentagon’s press secretary criticized the move as a “charade” intended to distract from the department’s work [4].
4. Political prospects and precedents — what the sources say
History and reporting underline that impeachment is legal-political, not purely judicial. Past efforts against Trump (including two impeachments in his first presidency and multiple resolutions introduced by members) show impeachment can be both consequential and symbolic [5] [9]. News outlets flag that earlier privileged motions by Democrats, such as Rep. Al Green’s, were quashed or tabled and that standing alone, House minority pushes face steep obstacles when the majority is opposed [5] [6] [7].
5. Conflicting perspectives and hidden agendas
Sources present clear partisan divergence: sponsors frame their actions as constitutional duty to check abuses of power; administration and Pentagon statements frame them as political stunts designed to score points or distract [3] [4]. Leadership Democrats have also signaled strategic reluctance to pursue impeachment when it lacks realistic prospects for success—suggesting internal party disagreements about tactics versus principle [8] [7]. Advocacy groups like Free Speech For People push broader long-term impeachment campaigns, reflecting activist agendas beyond congressional strategy [10].
6. Limits of current reporting and what journalists should watch next
Available sources document filings, official texts, and political reaction but do not report the House taking these specific resolutions to successful floor votes or any Senate trials tied to the 2025 filings (available sources do not mention floor passage or Senate conviction of the 2025 resolutions). Key follow-ups: whether House committees investigate, whether leadership forces or blocks floor consideration, and whether any criminal or executive-branch findings buttress the factual claims in the articles (available sources do not provide those outcomes) [1] [2] [3] [4] [7].
Bottom line: multiple, high-profile articles of impeachment are on record in late 2025 against both the President and the Defense Secretary, but the sources make clear these are politically contested moves with uncertain legislative traction and clear intra-party disagreements about their wisdom and practicality [1] [2] [3] [4] [7].