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An attempt in the US House of Representatives to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over the military campaign in Iran without congressional approval has been defeated. Lawmakers voted to refer the impeachment articles to a committee, effectively halting the measure introduced by Republican congressman Thomas Massie.
Congressional Vote and Committee Referral
The House voted 211-204 to send the resolution to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee rather than allowing it to proceed on the House floor. All Republicans except Massie voted in favor of the referral, which successfully blocked the effort given the limited time remaining in the current Congress. More than a dozen members missed the ballot, including 11 Democrats, several of whom blamed traffic difficulties for their absence.
Democratic Senator-critic Abdul El-Sayed criticized the absent lawmakers during an interview with CNN, stating that representatives should show up and perform their duties. Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that the push is not over, declaring that the vote marks only the beginning.
Accusations and Defence
Massie formally introduced eight articles of impeachment, alleging that Hegseth violated the law by waging a war in Iran for over 90 days without authorization from lawmakers. The documents additionally charged the defense secretary with overseeing extrajudicial killings during naval operations targeting suspected drug vessels in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Speaking at a briefing, Hegseth dismissed the impeachment push as a farce, a political stunt, and sabotage executed by a disgruntled opponent. Hegseth argued that the resolution threatened national security by signaling to adversaries that the United States would punish its own leaders for carrying out lawful military operations. He maintained that the effort stemmed from policy disagreements rather than high crimes, misdemeanors, treason, or bribery.
Political Repercussions and Future Outlook
President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, describing the attempt as a miserable failure and praising military recruitment figures alongside recent victories in Venezuela and Iran. Massie acknowledged he was not surprised by the result, though he expressed disappointment, noting that lawmakers often struggle to act even when it benefits them politically.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously anticipated the failure of the impeachment motion. However, political calculations could shift in January when the Democratic Party assumes control of both chambers of Congress following the midterm elections. While Hegseth survived the current challenge, some Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz, have expressed expectations that he could eventually resign or be dismissed by Trump.
