US Congress: House Republicans Block Bid to Impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

House Republicans in the US Congress thwarted an attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in its tracks on Tuesday, November 10, granting the Pentagon chief a valuable reprieve before the start of the new Democrat-led Congress next January. Republican lawmakers voted to refer the resolution back to committee, effectively shelving any vote against the controversial secretary indefinitely.

Postponing the Outcome Until January

Despite the severe defeat suffered by the Republican Party in the November 3 midterm elections, Republicans continue to hold the majority in Congress until January, when the newly elected representatives will be sworn in. After taking control of the majority, Democrats are widely expected to reopen the impeachment file against Hegseth, who is accused of multiple legal violations, particularly regarding his conduct of military operations against Iran.

For his part, President Donald Trump was quick to welcome the outcome of the vote, reaffirming his absolute support for his secretary and describing him as a "great patriot." A Department of Defense spokesperson also commented on social media, describing the result as a "complete victory" and calling the impeachment attempt "entirely without merit."

Accusations of Extrajudicial Killings and Violations in Iran War

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, known for his critical stances toward Trump and whose term is nearing its end, had initiated the impeachment proceedings on Monday. His resolution outlined eight primary charges against Hegseth, topped by the accusation of breaking the law by launching military operations against Iran without prior authorization from Congress.

Massie also accused the Defense Secretary of flouting international laws and conventions concerning the protection of civilians, pointing to an airstrike on an elementary school in Iran that resulted in the deaths of 120 children in the early hours of the conflict. The allegations extended further to include carrying out "extrajudicial executions" against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Fierce Defense and Ongoing Controversy

In response, the Pentagon chief vigorously defended the military decisions, characterizing the operations conducted in Iran as a "courageous and historic effort." He declared: "I stand behind every single one of those operations, I was proud to lead them, and I would do the exact same thing tomorrow," seeking to frame the targeting of him as an indirect assault on the US armed forces and on Trump's foreign policy.

These developments come amid a weakened political standing for Hegseth following criticisms directed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the military operation against Tehran, which was viewed as a primary reason for the Republicans' electoral defeat. This is in addition to a trail of crises dogging the former Fox News host, ranging from his controversial suggestion to broadcast a military execution live on air, to the "Signal app leaks" scandal, in which a journalist was accidentally added to a top-secret military group chat concerning strikes in Yemen.