US Republicans voted to block a motion to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his role in the Iran war, with 211-204 votes in favor of referring the matter to a committee. The move effectively ended the impeachment effort introduced by Republican Thomas Massie.
The vote followed a bid by Massie to hold Hegseth accountable for fighting a war in Iran without congressional approval. The resolution also accused Hegseth of overseeing 'extrajudicial killings' in military operations in the Pacific and Caribbean. Hegseth called the accusations a 'farce' and 'sabotage'.
President Donald Trump praised the outcome, calling Hegseth a 'Great American Patriot' and stating the impeachment effort 'has miserably FAILED'. Massie, a Trump critic, argued the move would force a replacement for Hegseth before Democrats take control of Congress in January.
The impeachment bid, which could have required Republican support, failed as most Republicans defied Trump. The resolution will be reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee, with Democrats expected to take up the issue next year.