House Votes 211-204 to Kill Hegseth Impeachment: What Happens Next
The House voted 211-204 to shelve eight impeachment articles against Pete Hegseth after 11 Democrats missed the vote, sparking a backlash inside the party.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Secretary of Defense
WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives voted 211-204 on Tuesday, November 10, to send eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the House Judiciary Committee, killing the effort in the final weeks of the Republican-led Congress. The referral passed by seven votes — fewer than the 11 Democrats absent from the chamber.
Introduced on Monday by Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and backed by Democrats, the articles accused Hegseth of waging war against Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation and of overseeing extrajudicial killings in strikes on suspected drug boats. Hegseth rejected the charges at his first Pentagon news conference in months, calling the effort a farce.
Key Takeaways
- The House voted 211-204 to refer the articles to committee; 210 Republicans and independent Kevin Kiley backed the move, with Massie the only Republican opposed.
- All 203 Democrats present opposed the referral; 11 Democrats and seven Republicans were absent, and eight more Democratic votes would have defeated it.
- The eight articles accused Hegseth of waging the Iran war without authorisation and of extrajudicial killings in strikes on suspected drug boats.
- Democrats take control of the House and Senate on January 3 and could try again, though removal needs a two-thirds Senate vote.
Why Did the House Vote 211-204 Against Impeaching Pete Hegseth?
The vote was not on impeachment itself, but on a procedural motion to refer the resolution to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, where it can sit indefinitely. All 210 Republicans who voted backed the referral, joined by independent Kevin Kiley, while Massie voted with all 203 Democrats present. The resolution was filed on Monday as lawmakers returned to Washington.
Eighteen lawmakers did not vote — 11 Democrats and seven Republicans. Had eight of the absent Democrats been present, the referral would have failed, forcing a full impeachment vote. President Donald Trump welcomed the outcome, calling it the "exoneration of a great American patriot."
What the Eight Articles of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth Said
Massie's resolution contained eight counts, led by the charge that Hegseth waged war against Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation. Other counts covered the US campaign against suspected drug boats, which the resolution said involved extrajudicial killings, and further alleged misconduct.
Hegseth has defended the strikes as lawful operations against narcotics traffickers. The House took no vote on the substance of the counts, and the referral leaves the allegations unadjudicated.
| Group | Voted to refer | Voted against | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republicans | 210 | 1 (Massie) | 7 |
| Democrats | 0 | 203 | 11 |
| Independent | 1 (Kiley) | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 211 | 204 | 18 |
Can Democrats Impeach Pete Hegseth Again in January?
Democrats take control of the House and Senate on January 3, and several say the effort will return. Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado wrote online that "next year House Democrats will impeach Hegseth," accusing Speaker Mike Johnson of closing the vote early to shield him. House Democrats have also signalled they may pursue wide-ranging investigations once they hold the gavel.
But the missed vote has set off a backlash inside the party. House Democratic whip Katherine Clark told colleagues on Wednesday that the absent Democrats had "disappointed the American people," two people briefed on the meeting said. Some of the absent members cited a Veterans Day event, a medical procedure or a personal emergency; most of the others blamed rush-hour traffic. Each said they would have opposed the referral.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the House vote 211-204 on Pete Hegseth's impeachment?
The House voted on a procedural motion to send the articles to the Judiciary Committee, not on impeachment itself. It passed 211-204, with 210 Republicans and one independent in favour.
How many Democrats missed the Hegseth impeachment vote?
Eleven Democrats were absent, along with seven Republicans. Eight of them voting against the referral would have defeated it and forced a full House vote.
What were the eight articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth?
They accused Hegseth of waging war against Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorisation and of extrajudicial killings in strikes on suspected drug boats. The House did not vote on the charges themselves.
Can Democrats impeach Pete Hegseth again in January?
Democrats take control of the House and Senate on January 3 and could introduce the articles again, though removal would still require a two-thirds Senate vote.
The referral now sits with the Judiciary Committee, which is not required to act. The current Congress ends on January 3, when Democrats take control of the House and Senate.
