Massie breaks with GOP, teams up with Democrats to take Trump to court over Iran war
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky) is joining House Democrats in a rare bipartisan effort to challenge President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war, backing legislation that would direct Speaker Mike Johnson to sue the White House over alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution.
Thomas Massie has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, accusing the administration of acting unconstitutionally by launching military strikes and entering conflicts in Iran without taking formal authorization.
Massie joins Dems to seek legal action against Trump
US Representative Thomas Massie is the lone Republican and is one of the co-sponsors of a new resolution aimed at compelling House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, to sue the Trump administration over allegations the president is violating federal law with the US conflict in the Middle East.
The measure is being led by Rep Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and is backed by Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash), Jason Crow (D-Colo), Ro Khanna (D-Calif), and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky).
Massie has accused Trump and Hegseth of violating “two sections of the War Powers Resolution of 1973."
Massie argued the White House is ignoring the War Powers Resolution, saying no court has ruled the law unconstitutional despite the administration acting as if it does not apply. He said it is now up to the courts to decide the issue.
"For the first time since the law was enacted, a concurrent resolution has passed in accordance with 5(c) of the law, but the White House has ignored it.
“It seems they’ve assumed the law is unconstitutional, but no court has ever found that to be the case, so the law remains on the books while the White House flouts it. In the 1983 case INS v. Chadha, the Supreme Court did not opine on the 1973 War Powers Resolution. It’s time for the courts to settle this, and that’s what our legislation directs."
Massie also accused Trump of manipulating the law and using the 60-day “limit on Presidential military activity” to continue strikes on Iran without authorization.
“They’ve perpetuated a ruse that the 60-day limit on Presidential military activity does not apply with respect to the Iran war, because each time they effect a temporary ceasefire, the statutory clock restarts. We believe no court would agree with this absurdity, and this should be litigated as well,” Massie said.
Massie rebukes Congress for not blocking Iran war
Massie also criticized congressional leadership for not doing more to block the war.
Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson has chosen to let the power of our institution atrophy and is doing harm to our constitutional authority by his inaction motivated by political expediency," Massie said.
"Although both Iraq wars and the war in Afghanistan were authorized by AUMFs [Authorization for Use of Military Force] from Congress, the Trump administration has sought no such Congressional authorization for the war in Iran, and is therefore operating unconstitutionally."
