US House Rejects Impeachment Resolution Against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
WASHINGTON:The US House of Representatives has rejected an impeachment resolution against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, defeating the move by a vote of 211 to 204.
The impeachment resolution was introduced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a member of President Donald Trump’s own party. Massie cited what he described as an illegal war against Iran as the basis for the impeachment effort, accusing Hegseth of bypassing Congress and unlawfully exercising war powers.
Hegseth also faced allegations over a US attack on a school in Minab, Iran, which reportedly killed children and other innocent civilians. The resolution accused him of violating the US Constitution and abusing his official authority.
Following the rejection of the resolution, President Donald Trump welcomed the outcome, saying the attempt to impeach Hegseth had failed badly.
Trump said that every Republican except Thomas Massie, whom he referred to as a failed politician, had voted in support of Hegseth.
The US president also highlighted what he described as successes in Venezuela and Iran, along with record military recruitment figures.
Trump said the House had cleared Hegseth and accused Democrats of harming the United States, adding that they should be stopped.
Before the vote, Hegseth had dismissed the impeachment effort, saying it would have no impact on him. He described the move as a political spectacle and an alleged conspiracy against all American military personnel.
He also maintained that no US Secretary of War had ever been removed from office during a military operation in American history and insisted that the military action against Iran was legally justified.
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