US House blocks bid to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, for now
The US House of Representatives blocked an impeachment bid against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring the matter to a committee which effectively kills the effort. The resolution was introduced by Republican Thomas Massie but failed to gain sufficient support.
Why it matters
The vote demonstrates the current political alignment within the House and the administration's ability to deflect internal opposition.
Figure caption, Watch: Republicans vote to block Hegseth impeachment from reaching full vote
An effort to impeach US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for waging war on Iran without congressional authorisation has failed on Capitol Hill.
A majority of the House of Representatives agreed to refer impeachment articles to a committee - essentially killing the effort introduced by dissident Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky - for now.
Earlier in the day, in his first news brieifing from the Pentagon in six months, Hegseth called the impeachment effort a "farce" and "sabotage".
The impeachment effort was seen as a long shot as it would have required a number of other Republicans to defy President Donald Trump.
Massie was the only Republican to vote against moving the resolution to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
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