USAupdated 26m ago2 min read
House Republicans Block Impeachment Resolution for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
“A security agent for Pete Hegseth threatened to physically remove reporters”
“Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major, has some breathing room”
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House Republicans blocked the move to impeach Pete Hegseth, sending the resolution to committee. Vote was party-line; Democrats plan another impeachment attempt in January.
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Impeachment Shelved
The House of Representatives blocked a move to impeach U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by voting to refer an impeachment resolution to a committee rather than put it to a full vote.
The vote split along party lines as Republicans sent the resolution forward while no Democrats in attendance voted in favour of sending it to committee, effectively shelving the measure for the remainder of the current Congress.
Euronews said the House failed to gather the votes needed to send the impeachment resolution to the Justice Committee in a vote of 211 to 204.
Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon press conference that the effort was “a farce, it’s a setup, and everyone knows it,” as he defended operations in Yemen, Iran, and against alleged drug traffickers.
Massie Accusations
Rep. Thomas Massie introduced the impeachment resolution and formally introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on November 9, accusing him of violating the U.S. constitution.
Massie accused Hegseth of “high crimes and misdemeanours,” including in relation to U.S. operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, and Hegseth responded that each was a “lawful operation ordered by the commander-in-chief.”
The BBC reported that Hegseth dismissed Massie as a “discontented and defeated congressman” who leads a “charade” and a “public relations stunt,” while Hegseth tied his own fate to President Donald Trump.
The Hill said House Republicans sent back eight articles of impeachment brought by Rep. Thomas Massie, and it described Hegseth as surviving another battle with Democrats while Democrats planned to act once they take control next year.
What Happens Next
Democrats signaled they would reattempt impeachment after they take control of Congress in January, with the BBC describing the political pressure around the war in Iran as a key factor in voter discontent.
“The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has spectacularly failed!”
The Conversation said the House vote of 211-204 referred the resolution to committee “effectively killing off the measure for the remainder of this Congress,” while it said Democrats were preparing to take control when Congress resets on January 3.
Trump publicly reiterated support for Hegseth, and Antena 3 Noticias said Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social and wrote, “The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has spectacularly failed!”
The Hill said incoming Democratic leadership would hold Hegseth accountable once Democrats take the majority in the 120th Congress, and it quoted Rep. Betty McCollum saying, “When Democrats take the majority in the 120th Congress, we will hold Secretary Hegseth accountable for his illegal actions.”