Congress returns for crowded lame-duck session as Hegseth impeachment looms

Congress convenes for a lengthy lame-duck session following the historic midterm elections, with a packed agenda ahead of the new Congress's start on January 3. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pushback over his plan to tackle only one piece of legislation under a specific rule, while Rep. Thomas Massie prepares to reintroduce a resolution to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth denies the impeachment bid, asserting his commitment to the Iran war and his cultural agenda at the Pentagon. Meanwhile, a bipartisan push to impeach Attorney General Todd Blanche over mishandled Jeffrey Epstein records gains momentum, needing just two more Democrats to ratify the Epstein Transparency Act II. House Democrats prepare for their leadership elections on November 18, and Senate Republicans are set to elect their leaders on Tuesday.

The lame-duck Congress grapples with several pressing issues, including a potential government shutdown before December 11 and the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act.