US House of Representatives thwarts attempt to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Republicans in the US House of Representatives thwarted an attempt to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking a victory for President Donald Trump.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives thwarted an effort on Tuesday to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war with Iran, marking a victory for President Donald Trump just days after his party’s defeat in the midterm elections.
The House voted 211 to 204 to refer the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively blocking a vote scheduled for Wednesday on whether to bring formal charges against the Defense Secretary.
This development follows the Republican Party’s loss in the midterm elections, which President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance attributed to the fallout from the war against Iran.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hegseth condemned the impeachment attempt, calling it a “circus,” and defended his record in overseeing numerous military operations that had drawn criticism.
Speaking about the impeachment proceedings, Hegseth told reporters, “It’s a circus, it’s a stunt, and everyone knows it. What a disgruntled, defeated member of Congress is trying to do is not oversight, nor accountability. It is merely political posturing.”
Massie, a fierce critic of Trump, is leaving his post after losing the Republican primary to a candidate backed by the president.
Trump expressed his support for Hegseth, writing on social media on Tuesday that he “is getting an A-plus for his defense.”
On Tuesday, Hegseth defended U.S. military interventions in Yemen, Iran, and Venezuela, as well as strikes targeting boats suspected of belonging to drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
“I support every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them,” he said, comparing the impeachment attempt to an attack on U.S. forces.
The U.S. Defense Secretary added, “These articles of impeachment tell each of them (U.S. service members) that their service was a crime. Their service was not a crime; they are heroes.”
Many of the impeachment articles relate to the war with Iran, accusing Hegseth of violating the War Powers Act, which requires consultation with Congress regarding U.S. military interventions.
Hegseth is a staunch defender of the war with Iran, which is unpopular in the United States, describing it as a “brave and historic” action.
