House Republicans on Tuesday evening killed Rep. Thomas Massie's attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, voting 211-204 to send the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, which effectively ends it and heads off an impeachment vote that could have come Wednesday, Fox News Digital reports.
Every Republican except Massie voted to shelve it. All Democrats present voted to move ahead. GOP leaders had worried that absences after last week's midterm losses could let the measure through, but Speaker Mike Johnson held the votes together.
Massie's resolution laid out eight articles, covering the Iran war, U.S. strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean and Hegseth's dispute with Sen. Mark Kelly. The outgoing Kentucky Republican forced the vote over leadership's objections by filing it as a privileged resolution.
Hegseth hit back at Massie Tuesday morning: "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment."
Even Republicans who are critical of Hegseth voted no. "I'm personally not a fan of the secretary," said Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska. "But, also, when you read Massie's impeachment, I don't agree with it."
President Trump celebrated on Truth Social: "The Democrats' attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!" He called it the "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot" and praised Hegseth's record on Venezuela, Iran and recruiting.
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