The U.S. House voted 211-204 on Nov. 10 to send eight impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee, preventing a floor vote for now. (Foto: Instagram)
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, Nov. 10, approved a Republican move to keep an impeachment petition against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from reaching a floor vote for now. The measure passed 211-204 and sent eight articles of impeachment filed by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to the House Judiciary Committee, which Republicans control.
The referral prevents the House from voting on the accusations at this stage. Republicans hold a majority on the committee and will control its review, giving them the ability to block the case from advancing. The proposal could remain stalled there through the end of the current congressional session in January 2027.
Massie filed the petition on Monday, Nov. 9. The eight counts accuse Hegseth of abusing his office and violating the Constitution, primarily by conducting military operations without congressional authorization, according to the allegations in the filing. They include launching military operations against Iran without congressional approval, continuing them after the House and Senate approved a resolution calling for troops to withdraw, and extending the operations beyond the 60-day limit set by law.
Other allegations concern civilian protections and military actions at sea. Massie accused Hegseth of weakening measures to prevent and investigate deaths caused by military operations. The petition also claims he authorized attacks on vessels suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, resulting in what it describes as extrajudicial killings of suspected traffickers.
The remaining counts accuse Hegseth of pressuring and intimidating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly after Kelly said service members can refuse illegal orders; authorizing an operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional approval; and conducting military operations in Yemen without lawmakers’ authorization. These are allegations in Massie’s impeachment petition, not findings established by the House.
Before the vote, Hegseth rejected the case and called it a “sham.” He described it as “a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment,” saying it was timed for the final days of a man’s tenure in Congress and intended to harm the president, the country and, “most irresponsibly,” the service members defending it. He added that it was a political maneuver and said everyone knew it.
President Donald Trump welcomed the House’s decision and said the Democrats’ effort had “failed miserably.” The committee referral means the House did not vote on the merits of the eight charges on Tuesday; instead, the Republican-controlled panel will determine whether the matter proceeds.
