US Republicans derail bid to impeach Pentagon chief

On Tuesday, Republicans in the US House of Representatives blocked an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, resulting in a 211 to 204 vote to send the resolution to the Judiciary Committee. This effectively halted a planned vote on Wednesday regarding formal charges against Hegseth, who is accused of illegally waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers.

The impeachment drive was introduced by Republican Thomas Massie, the only member of his party to oppose the procedural maneuver. Despite the narrow House majority until January, when Democrats take control, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell hailed the vote as a "TOTAL VICTORY!" emphasizing that facts would prevail and the impeachment would be put to rest.

Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a "farce" and "stunt," branding the accusations as "slander" and "sabotage." Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance also backed Hegseth, stating he had not committed impeachable offenses. The eight articles of impeachment accused Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution in the Iran war, accusing him of extrajudicial killings in Yemen, Venezuela, and in alleged drug smuggling operations.

Massie's eight articles also accused Hegseth of suppressing free speech by attempting to punish Democratic Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders. However, Massie acknowledged that he would leave Congress at the end of his term and the immediate impeachment drive would halt but not prevent Democrats from reviving the effort after taking control of Congress in January.