House vote sends impeachment articles to committee, leaving Pete Hegseth spared as GOP shelves effort

House blocks impeachment effort

The House voted 211-204 to refer the impeachment articles to the Judiciary Committee. That procedural move prevented a vote on the accusations against Hegseth and effectively halted the effort.

Republicans retain control of the House until the next Congress convenes in January. Hegseth has therefore been spared impeachment for now.

Massie sought separate votes

Massie had introduced impeachment articles against Hegseth in September over the Iran war. The House did not vote then because Speaker Mike Johnson recessed early. Before Tuesday’s vote, Massie said some colleagues backed only part of the eight articles. He said he would seek separate votes on each article if the referral motion failed.

Hegseth defended operations

Hegseth said the operations involving Iran, cartels, Maduro and Yemen were lawful. He said they were ordered by the commander-in-chief, then by him, and that Congress was notified.

Critics online accused him of appearing to claim he was following orders. Some compared that argument with Nazi leaders convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials.

Trump backed Hegseth

At a Monday press conference with UFC President Dana White, Trump called Massie a “stone-cold loser,” according to Trump. He also said he would stand by Hegseth even if the secretary were impeached.

Massie will not be in Congress to pursue the matter further. He lost his primary earlier this year to a Trump-backed opponent, who later won the general election.