WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth survived an impeachment effort Tuesday, at least for now, after the U.S. House voted to block a vote on articles accusing him of overseeing extrajudicial killings and an illegal war against Iran, States Newsroom reported via the Arizona Mirror.
The House voted 211-204, largely along party lines, to refer the articles to a committee, effectively killing them until the current Congress ends in January. Eleven Democrats and seven Republicans missed the vote.
Rep. Thomas Massie, an outgoing Kentucky Republican, introduced the articles Monday. They allege Hegseth waged unlawful war against Iran, ordered extrajudicial killings and ignored laws meant to minimize civilian casualties, among other charges.
Hours before the vote, Hegseth called the effort a “farce” at a Pentagon news conference and rejected the idea that he had committed impeachable offenses. “It tells our enemies — Iran, the cartels, every adversary watching — that the United States will actually punish its own warriors,” he said.
Hegseth called Massie a “disgruntled and defeated congressman.” Massie, who has often clashed with President Trump, lost his primary in May to a Trump-backed challenger.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, expected to become majority leader in January, said Hegseth should stand trial in the Senate if impeached.
Trump has stood by Hegseth. “Pete Hegseth should be praised, not Impeached. Congress, stand up for Pete!!!” he wrote on social media Monday.
Democrats will hold a large House majority when the new Congress begins in January, and opponents could try again then, according to the report.
Sources: Arizona Mirror/States Newsroom, CBS News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Noclip / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
