Politics & Government

KY Rep. Massie files resolution against U.S. involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., looks at a smart phone as Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., looks at a smart phone as Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing of the Department of Justice on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie filed on Tuesday a resolution to ban the United States from involvement in the Israel-Iran war.

Massie, a Republican who has opposes spending on foreign aid, filed a resolution that “directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military.”

The resolution was filed with California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna, and co-sponsors include Democrats Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar, Massie said in a post on social media.

Fighting between Iran and Israel began Friday when Israel launched an attack on Iran and killed many of the country’s military leaders. In the days since, more than 200 people in Iran have been killed and more than 1,400 people injured by Israeli attacks. Retaliation by Iran has killed at least 24 people and injured around 600 in Israel.

“This is not our war,” Massie said in a post about the resolution. “Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution.”

Massie has opposed spending on foreign aid, and in recent years has voted against spending on Ukraine and Israel, an unusual record for a Republican.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called Massie a “third-rate grandstander” and said he wanted the lawmaker beaten in a primary election.

Monica Kast
Lexington Herald-Leader
Monica Kast covers higher education for the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Previously, she covered higher education in Tennessee for the Knoxville News Sentinel. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Support my work with a digital subscription
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