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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth remains free to continue doing his job after House GOP leaders successfully blocked a privileged resolution from Rep. Thomas Massie (RINO-KY) that would have forced an impeachment vote. The measure, which accused Hegseth of various high crimes related to military operations, was instead referred to the Judiciary Committee by a 211-204 vote Tuesday evening, a procedural step that in practice ends the matter.
So it seems that doing your job, one that requires cold decisions that put men and women in harm's way, is now considered a high crime. I guess if you hate the United States, it qualifies as such.
President Donald Trump, one of the most eloquent and loquacious presidents in the history of presidents, marked the occasion on Truth Social by labeling Massie a "major LOSER" and praising Hegseth’s record on operations involving Venezuela and Iran. "The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!" Trump wrote, calling the result the "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot."
The resolution itself contained eight articles covering the Iran conflict, strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, and Hegseth’s response to a seditious video from Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), that urged troops to disobey "unlawful orders." Massie had filed it as a privileged measure, requiring consideration within two legislative days and overriding the normal preferences of House leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) nevertheless secured enough Republican votes to table it, even after the party’s recent midterm losses left leaders concerned about attendance.
Hegseth addressed the effort directly at a Tuesday morning news conference. "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment," he said.
Every Democrat present voted to advance the resolution. Every Republican except Massie voted against it. Some members had expressed private worry earlier in the day that thin attendance could produce an unintended outcome.
"I'm going to vote no," Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), told Fox News Digital. "I don't know if any Republicans other than Massie will be in support of his articles of impeachment, but I don't even know how many Republicans will be here by the time of the vote. The real question is how short are we. Numerically, if they're all here and we're not, what happens then?" Ellzey added that the push was "a ridiculous waste of time."
Even Republicans who have criticized Hegseth declined to back the sour grapes articles.
President Donald Trump, one of the most eloquent and loquacious presidents in the history of presidents, marked the occasion on Truth Social by labeling Massie a "major LOSER" and praising Hegseth’s record on operations involving Venezuela and Iran. "The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!" Trump wrote, calling the result the "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot."
The resolution itself contained eight articles covering the Iran conflict, strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, and Hegseth’s response to a seditious video from Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), that urged troops to disobey "unlawful orders." Massie had filed it as a privileged measure, requiring consideration within two legislative days and overriding the normal preferences of House leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) nevertheless secured enough Republican votes to table it, even after the party’s recent midterm losses left leaders concerned about attendance.
Hegseth addressed the effort directly at a Tuesday morning news conference. "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment," he said.
Every Democrat present voted to advance the resolution. Every Republican except Massie voted against it. Some members had expressed private worry earlier in the day that thin attendance could produce an unintended outcome.
"I'm going to vote no," Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), told Fox News Digital. "I don't know if any Republicans other than Massie will be in support of his articles of impeachment, but I don't even know how many Republicans will be here by the time of the vote. The real question is how short are we. Numerically, if they're all here and we're not, what happens then?" Ellzey added that the push was "a ridiculous waste of time."
Even Republicans who have criticized Hegseth declined to back the sour grapes articles.
"I think it's an effort to scapegoat Pete Hegseth for Congress shirking their own duty and, frankly, the president taking action that, in my view, is unconstitutional. but it's also not unprecedented," said Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH). "What would be unprecedented is to hold the secretary of defense accountable for a decision the president makes. Or, frankly, it would have been unprecedented for the secretary of defense to kind of break ranks on something that is clearly not unprecedented in terms of what has become the standard operating procedure for administrations going back to the Korean War."
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a frequent Hegseth critic, was similarly unmoved. "I'm personally not a fan of the secretary. I don't think he was the right guy in the job. But, also, when you read Massie's impeachment, I don't agree with it," he told reporters.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a frequent Hegseth critic, was similarly unmoved. "I'm personally not a fan of the secretary. I don't think he was the right guy in the job. But, also, when you read Massie's impeachment, I don't agree with it," he told reporters.
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