The Media Line: House Blocks Hegseth Impeachment Bid in 211-204 Vote; President Trump Hails ‘Exoneration’  

House Blocks Hegseth Impeachment Bid in 211-204 Vote; President Trump Hails ‘Exoneration’  

By The Media Line Staff  

The House of Representatives rejected an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, voting 211-204 to send the impeachment articles to a committee rather than advance allegations concerning US military operations in Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen.  

More than a dozen lawmakers, including 11 Democrats, missed the vote. The Republican-controlled House’s decision effectively halted the proceedings, although impeachment resolutions can carry over into the next congressional term.  

Rep. Thomas Massie, the only Republican to support the measure, introduced the articles alleging that Hegseth committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” in connection with the military conflicts.  

Defending his proposal Tuesday, Massie said Hegseth “has violated the norms of war, and it’s to the disadvantage and the dishonor of our country, and to the danger of our soldiers in future conflicts.”  

Hegseth rejected the accusations during a Pentagon news conference, insisting that every military operation cited in the impeachment articles was “lawful.” He also characterized the proceedings as an affront to American service members carrying out those missions.  

“It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it,” Hegseth said.  

Comparing the proceedings to the two Democratic-led impeachments of President Donald Trump during his first term, Hegseth defended his association with the president.  

“If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I’ll take that company every day of the week,” he said.  

President Trump backed Hegseth on Truth Social shortly afterward, praising his defense against Massie and declaring that the secretary “gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!”  

Following Tuesday evening’s vote, Trump called the outcome an “EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot.”  

“The Democrats continue to weaponize and abuse the United States of America. They must be stopped!” he added.  

Democrats, who won both chambers in the midterm elections, will assume control in January. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., expected to become speaker, has pledged to “run Pete Hegseth out of town” once Democrats take power.