House Blocks Impeachment Vote Against Secretary of War Hegseth

The US House of Representatives voted 211-204 on Tuesday to block an impeachment vote against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, sending the articles to the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee. The move prevents a full chamber vote on the eight impeachment articles filed by Republican Representative Thomas Massie. Massie, a member of Trump's own party, accused Hegseth of abusing power and violating the Constitution, including conducting unauthorized military operations in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela, and authorizing extrajudicial executions. Hegseth dismissed the effort as a "farce" and "political spectacle," while Trump celebrated the outcome, attributing it to military victories. The impeachment attempt follows the Republicans' loss of Congress in the midterm elections, with the Iran war cited as a key factor. Hegseth's removal was always considered unlikely, as conviction in the Senate would require a two-thirds majority, and only one US Secretary of War, William Belknap in 1876, has ever faced impeachment.