US Republicans block impeachment attempt against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

US House Republicans voted 211-204 on Tuesday to block an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, rejecting allegations of constitutional violations tied to the Iran war and other conflicts. The move came a week after Republicans lost both chambers in their worst midterm election in over 50 years. Republican Thomas Massie, who lost his primary after breaking with President Donald Trump, proposed the impeachment in September, citing eight alleged violations including killing civilians in Iran, unauthorized operations in Venezuela and Yemen, and retaliation against a Democratic senator. Democrats backed the resolution, but Republicans referred it to the judiciary committee, with Massie as the sole Republican opposing that motion. Hegseth dismissed the effort as a "political spectacle" and "farce" at a Pentagon press conference hours before the vote. The defense secretary has faced internal GOP divisions over the Iran war, with some Republicans voting for war powers resolutions, though they rejected impeachment as blame-shifting onto Hegseth for Congress's and Trump's decisions.