Hegseth survives House vote as impeachment articles sent to committee
The 211-204 decision kills the current resolution but leaves the Defense Secretary facing a likely Democratic inquiry next year.
By Ricardo Alvarez ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth retained his post on Tuesday after the House voted 211 to 204 to refer the articles of impeachment against him to a committee. The procedural maneuver effectively ends the current impeachment drive led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. By sending the articles to committee, the House avoided a full floor vote that could have occurred as early as Wednesday. The move ensures the measure will likely expire before the current congressional session ends.
Massie reintroduced the articles of impeachment on Monday. The resolution accused Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors related to the war with Iran and U.S. strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. The text also targeted the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization. Additionally, the resolution sought to punish Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for a video stating that service members can refuse illegal orders.
Hegseth defended his record during a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday. He described Massie as a disgruntled and defeated congressman. Hegseth stated that he stood behind every operation and was proud to execute them. He added that he would do it again tomorrow. President Donald Trump expressed support for the Defense Secretary during a briefing at the White House on Monday. Trump said he would stand by Hegseth, noting that Hegseth won two wars and that the administration won as a result.
This represents the second impeachment attempt by Massie against Hegseth. The first attempt occurred before the midterm elections. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for an early recess to prevent a floor vote, which caused the original resolution to expire. Massie reintroduced the resolution this week to restart the process. The vote on Tuesday reversed that trajectory by short-circuiting the procedure.
Democrats have promised to launch vigorous investigations into the Pentagon once they assume the House majority in January. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next Speaker, told NPR last week that Hegseth has to go. It remains unclear whether a new impeachment effort will be mounted, but the current resolution is now stalled in committee. The vote result was 211 to 204.
