House Republicans Stall Hegseth Impeachment by Sending It to Judiciary Committee
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The House voted to delay the impeachment resolution against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth by sending it to the Judiciary Committee, sparing Republicans an immediate vote and keeping their shrinking majority intact until January.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 211 to 204 on Tuesday to send the impeachment resolution against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively blocking a scheduled vote on Wednesday. The measure, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, was the only procedural amendment opposed by a member of his own party, underscoring how isolated even limited accountability efforts can become in a Republican-controlled chamber.
Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House until the new Congress convenes in January, when Democrats are expected to control both chambers. Eleven Democrats were absent for the vote, a reminder that the procedural outcome was shaped as much by absence as by the majority's decision to shield one of its own.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted on X that the vote was a "TOTAL VICTORY" and said the committee would let facts prevail and end the "sham impeachment," language that framed the proceedings as political theater rather than a serious constitutional process.
Hegseth dismissed the effort as a "farce" and a "stunt" at a Pentagon press briefing, defending his role in the Iran conflict and other operations. President Donald Trump praised Hegseth on Truth Social, writing, "Pete Hegseth gets an 'A' PLUS, PLUS, PLUS." Vice President J.D. Vance also said Hegseth had "obviously not" committed impeachable offenses.
Massie's eight articles of impeachment allege that Hegseth waged war without congressional authorization, citing the eight-month Iran war, a 2025 conflict with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, and strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The resolution also accuses Hegseth of suppressing free speech by attempting to punish Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders.
Hegseth responded that he stands behind each operation and would repeat them if necessary. While the committee referral halts the immediate impeachment process, it leaves open the possibility of renewed action after Democrats assume control of Congress in January. Massie, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger, will leave office at the end of his term.