On 10 November, the US House of Representatives blocked an attempt to impeach Defence Minister Pete Hagseth, who is accused of exceeding his authority during military operations in Iran, Yemen and Venezuela. The Republicans succeeded in having the eight articles of impeachment referred to the relevant committee, effectively halting the proceedings until the end of the current parliamentary term. Meanwhile, the Democrats, who gained control of the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections, may return to this issue as early as January.
- The US House of Representatives has effectively halted the impeachment proceedings against Defence Secretary Pete Hagseth.
- 211 members of Congress voted in favour of referring the eight articles of impeachment to the committee.
- The charges relate to US military operations in Iran, Yemen and Venezuela.
- Trump has backed Hegset, whilst the Democrats are considering a second attempt at impeachment.
The Republicans have halted the impeachment proceedings
211 members of the House of Representatives voted in favour of referring the resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary, whilst 204 voted against. The impeachment was initiated by a Republican from the state of Kentucky Thomas Massie, who opposes the military policy of Donald Trump’s administration.
Massi was counting on the support of some of his party colleagues who were dissatisfied a war with Iran. However, no other Republican supported his position. Meanwhile, 11 Democrats did not take part in the vote, including the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
The decision does not imply that Hegset has been exonerated of the charges brought against him. Members of Congress voted in favour of a procedural motion to refer the resolution elsewhere, which effectively prevents the current House of Representatives from considering the impeachment case.
What is the Pentagon chief accused of?
The eight articles of impeachment cover several areas of the US military leadership’s activities. First and foremost, Massi accuses Hegsetta in organising and continuing military operations against Iran without the necessary authorisation from Congress.
Some of the allegations relate to the strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, on 28 February, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of children. The author of the resolution claims that the Pentagon leadership failed to ensure adequate protection for the civilian population.
Other articles concern the military operation to capture the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro in January 2026, attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as US operations in Yemen.
Hegset rejected the allegations and stated that all his orders to the American military had been lawful.
Trump has backed Hegset; the Democrats are preparing for the new Congress
President of the United States Donald Trump welcomed the outcome of the vote, declaring the impeachment attempt a failure. He praised the Defence Minister’s work, particularly during operations against Iran and Venezuela.
Hegset himself described the procedure before the vote impeachment a farce. During a briefing at the Pentagon, he defended the results of the US military campaign against Iran and expressed his confidence that it would eventually be viewed in a different light.
Leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives Hakim Jeffries did not rule out a fresh consideration of the impeachment once the new Congress takes office in January 2027.
The Democrats secured a majority in the mid-term elections on 3 November. Following the change in the composition of the House of Representatives, they will be able to initiate new hearings, including those involving high-ranking military officers dismissed following Hegset’s decision.
