Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth avoided an immediate House impeachment vote on Tuesday when lawmakers voted to send eight articles of impeachment to the Judiciary Committee, effectively stalling the measure for the remainder of the current congressional term.
House Refers Impeachment Resolution to Judiciary Committee
The Republican-led House voted 211-204 to refer the resolution back to the Judiciary Committee, where it could remain indefinitely. Of those voting on the referral, 210 Republicans and one independent supported sending the articles to committee, while 203 Democrats and Republican Representative Thomas Massie voted against it.
The procedural move short-circuits any potential floor vote and ensures the measure will not be addressed before the current Congress expires on January 3, when Democrats take control of the House and Senate.
I vehemently support the impeachment of Secretary Hegseth. Hegseth has dragged us into another endless war. He has fired experienced generals who disagree with him and the president. And under his leadership, the military has blatantly discriminated against women, LGBTQ+…
Massie’s impeachment resolution sought to oust Hegseth over the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional authorization, and the effort to punish Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., for a video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders.
“We’re not indicting him for being bad at his job,” Massie said, arguing that Hegseth had repeatedly exceeded his legal authority.
My statement on missing votes. pic.twitter.com/frBEikSZGh
Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio expressed a view that the war in Iran was unconstitutional, yet described Hegseth as a scapegoat for Washington status quo politics.
Lawmakers Criticize Absent Colleagues After Failed Vote
We knew that this vote was coming, so people should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote.
Sydney Kamlager-Dove, U.S. Representative for California
Kamlager-Dove voiced anger over the missed votes, criticizing colleagues who were absent while noting that several defeated Republican lawmakers still found a way to show up and table the bill.
Asked AOC during my live shot about the 11 Democratic absences that could have cost them a successful House vote to advance Pete Hegseth impeachment resolution. “The people send us here to do a job. I don't know if anyone had any real health issues or anything significant. So I… pic.twitter.com/zTaymGqhWV
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez likened attendance to clocking in for a job, stating that lawmakers had to show up to do their work. Political commentator Krystal Ball called the vote a major failure for party leadership, while writer Laura Bassett criticized leaders for failing to whip the vote.
A representative stated on social media that she was blocked from entering the Capitol due to a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus, arriving just as the vote gaveled out and filing a late ‘no’ vote in the Congressional Record.
Trump Offers Full Support to Pete Hegseth
I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow.
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
President Donald Trump offered full backing to his defense secretary during a wide-ranging, impromptu press briefing at the White House on Monday, stating, “I’ll stand by him. He won two wars. He was in charge. We all won.” Trump later celebrated the House outcome in a social media post by writing that the Democratic impeachment effort had miserably failed.
Incoming Majority Prepares for January
While the immediate push is blocked, Hegseth’s troubles on Capitol Hill are far from over.
Even with an incoming majority in the chamber, Democrats would likely need about a dozen Republicans to join them to secure Hegseth’s ultimate removal in a Senate trial, given that a Senate conviction requires a two-thirds majority.
