USAupdated 19m ago2 min read
MapHouse Votes 211-204 To Refer Massie Impeachment Resolution, Effectively Killing Hegseth Measure
“Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as ‘political spectacle,’ framing Massie's resolution as an indictment against the troops.”
“For half an hour on Tuesday morning’s news conference, Hegseth wove a web of lies designed to refute or obfuscate Massie’s eight charges.”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
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House voted 211-204 to refer impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively derailing it. Resolution filed by Rep. Thomas Massie; Democrats backed, Republicans largely opposed.
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House kills Hegseth bid
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 211-204 to refer GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's resolution to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to the House Judiciary Committee, effectively killing the measure for the remainder of the Republican-controlled 119th Congress.
Massie introduced the articles of impeachment on the House floor Monday afternoon, and Hegseth framed the effort as being directed at U.S. service members while dismissing it as "political spectacle."
Hegseth said, "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment."
President Donald Trump congratulated Hegseth in a post on his social media platform, writing that Democrats "FAILED" to impeach Hegseth and adding, "The Democrats' attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!"
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declared "TOTAL VICTORY" in a post on X, saying the referral of the impeachment articles to the House Judiciary Committee marked total victory for Secretary Hegseth and the American warfighter.
Absences decide vote
The procedural vote passed 211-204, and Thomas Massie was the sole Republican to oppose the measure, while the remaining votes fell along party lines.
Eighteen representatives were absent from the vote, including 11 Democrats and seven Republicans, and the absence of the 11 Democrats proved decisive.
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove said, "We knew that this vote was coming, so people should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote."
Rep. Melanie Stansbury said she and other lawmakers were unable to reach the Capitol in time to vote against the Republican effort to block the impeachment because of a traffic incident and a police escort.
Stansbury's office statement said, "Like other Members of Congress, Rep. Stansbury was blocked from entering the Capitol to vote due a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus during the vote."
What happens next
Massie began the process by presenting the articles of impeachment on Monday, and the attempt was likely to fail because Republicans would keep control of Congress until January.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson must schedule a meeting to consider it within two days, and the House options include voting directly, referring it to committee, or shelving it.
Massie said Tuesday, "This is not the end of it. It's just the beginning," after the House vote to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee.
Hegseth argued, "None of these are high crimes or misdemeanors," and the impeachment resolution accused him of launching the Iran war without congressional approval and directing extrajudicial killings for the Pentagon's boat strikes in the Caribbean.
The House has "the sole Power of Impeachment," and removal requires a Senate trial with a two-thirds supermajority, with 67 of the 100 senators needing to vote to convict for removal.