Hegseth saved by the House: ‘Impeachment is a farce’
Charges against the Pentagon chief have been dropped, but he insists: ‘I’d do it all again when it comes to Iran.’ Trump rejoices: ‘Pete is a great patriot.’ But the Democrats are preparing for a comeback in the new Congress in January
Key points
Pete Hegseth’s staunch defence against impeachment has found support in the House, which remains under Republican control: the allegations put forward by Thomas Massie – a conservative MP whose term is coming to an end, and who has long been critical of the current administration – have been dismissed, despite the open support of the majority of Democrats.
The House has in fact approved, by 211 votes in favour and 204 against, a motion to refer the charges against Hegseth to the Justice Committee: a move which, according to Massie as well, has effectively shelved the impeachment proceedings. Eleven Democratic MPs did not take part in the vote, meaning the final push to bring down Hegseth fell short.
The controversial head of the Pentagon will now have almost two months to put together his defence strategy, before the Democrats – who emerged triumphant from the mid-term elections – take control of Congress and may launch a new impeachment bid.
Trump’s praise for the ‘great patriot Hegseth’
Donald Trump immediately took to social media to express his satisfaction. ‘The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,’ said the US President, ‘has failed miserably! All Republicans, with the exception of Thomas Massie – a real loser – voted in favour of Pete,’ said the President. He then added: “Successes in Venezuela and Iran, the best recruitment figures in the history of the armed forces (with long waiting lists to enlist) and morale like never before have led to the acquittal of a great American patriot. The Democrats continue to exploit and abuse the United States of America. We must stop them! Let’s make America great again.”
The motion against Hegseth was therefore rejected by the House, but it would have had very little chance of passing in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority of seats would have been required to secure the defence secretary’s resignation. Massie nevertheless sought to highlight Hegseth’s failings, accusing him of waging war in Iran without congressional authorisation; of carrying out extrajudicial executions during raids on ships carrying suspected drug traffickers; of disregarding regulations designed to minimise civilian casualties (as in the attack on an Iranian school); and of illegally abducting a foreign leader: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
