House Republicans block bid to impeach Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump calls it ‘exoneration of a great American patriot’

The House Republicans stalled the motion to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday after the majority voted to refer the eight articles to the House Judiciary Committee. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 211 to 204 in favour of referring the articles of impeachment to the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee. Thomas Massie , the outgoing Kentucky Republican Representative, had earlier warned that vote would kill the impeachment motion. Massie's eight articles of impeachment accused Hegseth of waging war illegally without congressional authorisation and of abusing his powers as Pentagon chief. Several related to the eight-month Iran war, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution, which places limits on US military interventions without congressional authorisation. Other allegations involved the 2025 conflict with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which Massie branded “extrajudicial killings.” He also accused Hegseth of suppressing free speech by trying to punish Democratic Senator Mark Kelly over a video urging military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal orders. Massie had hoped to draw votes from Republicans upset with Hegseth's policies and wary of the unpopularity of the Iran war, but no other Republicans joined him. Democrats who had supported the impeachment effort will now have to wait until at least January, when they take control of Congress. This is not the first time House Republicans, despite some calling for Hegseth's impeachment, have stalled the vote. "It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it," he said at a Pentagon press conference, branding the accusations "slander" and "sabotage." Stay updated with the latest Trending , India , World , CJP Protest in Delh LIVE and US news.