House Republicans bury Massie's effort to impeach Hegseth

The House voted 211–204 to send Thomas Massie’s impeachment resolution against Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee. That effectively kills it for the rest of this Congress. Massie was the only Republican to vote against the referral. Every Democrat who voted opposed it too, but 11 Democrats were absent.

Massie had filed eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of abuses involving the Iran war, military strikes on suspected drug boats, the operation in Venezuela and retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly. The House never voted on whether those charges justified impeachment. Republicans sent the whole thing to committee, where it can sit without ever getting a hearing.

There’s another wrinkle: Democrats take control of the House in January. Massie lost his Republican primary, so he won’t be returning next year. Democrats could reopen the issue, but Tuesday’s vote ends this particular effort.