US House blocks impeachment bid against Defense Secretary Hegseth

The US House of Representatives voted 211-204 on Tuesday to block an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring eight articles of impeachment to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee. The procedural move effectively killed the push, which was sponsored by outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie. The impeachment articles accused Hegseth of "high crimes and misdemeanors" for allegedly illegally ordering military action in Iran and Yemen, attacks on boats in the Caribbean, and a plot to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Eleven Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, did not vote, and President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome as an "exoneration" of Hegseth. Democrats, who won control of Congress in last week's midterm elections, may pursue a new impeachment effort in January. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would discuss the possibility, and a future push could include testimony from top military officials fired by Hegseth. Voter anger over the Iran war, which has reached a stalemate, was a key factor in the Democratic midterm victory.