Massie's push to impeach Hegseth splits constituents in his own backyard: 'Pure spite'

KENTON COUNTY, Ky. — Rep. Thomas Massie's push to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war drew sharply different reactions from northern Kentucky residents interviewed by Fox News Digital, who offered competing assessments of the outgoing Republican congressman — and whether his latest confrontation with the Trump administration reflects principle or political payback.

Fox News Digital visited Covington, the population center of Massies district, along with Newport, Erlanger and other communities across the river from Cincinnati, to ask residents about their outgoing congressman and his efforts to impeach the Pentagon chief.

Richard Hassebrock, a Covington resident who said he has not always agreed with Massie, welcomed the impeachment effort.

"I'm not always a huge fan of Thomas Massie, but on this point I am," Hassebrock told Fox News Digital.

TRUMP DEFENDS PENTAGON CHIEF AS MASSIE TARGETS HIM: 'HEGSETH SHOULD BE PRAISED, NOT IMPEACHED'

Craig Cuskey, who works in the Covington area but lives just outside the bounds of Massies district in Louisville, described the impeachment push as "pure spite" and "petty," saying his opinion of the congressman had deteriorated.

The contrasting reactions came after House Republicans voted to refer Massie's impeachment effort against Hegseth to committee, adding another confrontation to the Kentucky Republican's long-running disagreements with President Donald Trump and his party's leadership.

Democrats poised to take the gavel in January, however, signaled they will likely take up Massies mantle and seek the Pentagon chiefs impeachment.

Hassebrock said he was disappointed by Massie's electoral defeat and praised the congressman's independence.

"He stands up for himself, he stands up to what he believes in, he's got principles unlike 99% of the other congress people out there," he said.

Rilla, a Fort Wright resident who provided only her first name, offered a more complicated assessment.

"I think he's just trying to get back at Trump," she said, while adding that she had been proud of Massie for standing up to the president and was disappointed by his defeat.

7 REPUBLICANS REBEL AGAINST TRUMP, VOTE WITH DEMS TO REIN IN IRAN WAR POWERS

Rilla said she opposed the Iran war, particularly the prospect of military action without congressional involvement.

"I don't think anyone should just go in and declare war without Congress being a part of it," she said.

Phil Wiseman, an Independence resident, said he doubted the impeachment effort would accomplish much, even as he questioned the administration's military strategy.

"I don't see a definable outcome," Wiseman said. "And if you're going to fight a war, there needs to be a definable outcome."

Wiseman said he identifies as a "RINO" — a term often used derisively by conservatives for "Republican in Name Only" — and voted for an independent instead of supporting Rep.-elect Ed Gallrein, the Trump-endorsed Republican who defeated Massie in Kentucky's primary earlier this year.

He said his family has discussed Hegseth, noting that his father was a 27-year military veteran and his son served in the Marine Corps.

"We all had the same discussion," he said. "Who is advising him? Because this [war