Democrats' Absence Blocks Hegseth Impeachmment Bid in House

The United States House of Representatives effectively halted the impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday. The move granted a significant reprieve to President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been reeling from recent midterm election losses. While Republican Congressman Thomas Massie introduced the articles of impeachment, the effort was primarily supported by Democrats who accused Hegseth of abusing power and conducting illegal military operations.

The chamber voted 211 to 204 to refer the articles back to the House Judiciary Committee. This procedural maneuver allows the articles to remain in committee indefinitely, effectively ending the impeachment drive for the duration of the current congressional term, which concludes in eight weeks. On January 3, Democrats are set to assume control of both the House and the Senate. Massie described the vote as a procedural motion designed to kill the resolution.

The outcome hinged on the absence of 11 Democratic lawmakers during the session. Had these members been present and voted with their colleagues, the party would have had the numbers to defeat the procedural move. Such a defeat would have forced a full House vote on impeachment as early as this week. The eighteen total absentees included seven Republicans, but the missing Democrats proved decisive in the narrow margin.

The absent members included Julia Brownley, Lou Correa, Nancy Pelosi, Laura Gillen, Steven Horsford, Jonathan Jackson, Brittany Pettersen, Melanie Stansbury, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, and Frederica Wilson. Several offered explanations for their absence. Strickland, Jackson, Stansbury, and Gillen cited traffic delays in Washington, DC. Pelosi stated she was in California for a veterans event, while Correa was in his home state before a health procedure. Horsford’s office noted a personal emergency.

Pettersen, who helped introduce the impeachment articles in April, said she was denied the ability to vote. Jackson, Stansbury, Gillen, Strickland, Horsford, Pelosi, and Pettersen all indicated they would have opposed the measure. Jackson and Stansbury recorded their opposition in the Congressional Record, although this does not alter the official count. Stevens, Brownley, and Wilson did not immediately comment on their absences.

Trump celebrated the result on social media, declaring that the Democratic impeachment effort had miserably failed. In the lead up to the November 3 midterm elections, Stevens had endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers for Senate after losing the Democratic primary to Abdul El-Sayed. Wilson and Brownley, along with Stevens, had previously opposed the administration’s handling of the war on Iran, demanding congressional approval for the fighting.

Democratic leaders and progressive commentators expressed frustration over the attendance issue. California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove argued that members should have known the vote was coming and shown up to cast their ballots. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed echoed this sentiment, stating that members should show up and do their jobs. Critics also pointed to House leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker in January, accusing him of not whiping the vote effectively.

Political commentator Krystal Ball called the outcome a major failure for Jeffries, noting that Democrats could have impeached Hegseth but did not show up. Progressive writer Laura Bassett argued that Jeffries told people to vote their conscience, leading to the absence of 11 members. She suggested this highlights the public desire for stronger leadership within the caucus.

Hegseth can still be impeached when the new Democratic-controlled Congress convenes in January. Jeffries said he will consult with members about a potential new bid next year. However, impeachment in the House is only the first step, similar to a criminal indictment. It triggers a Senate trial where conviction requires a two-thirds majority.

Even with a Democratic majority in the Senate next year, Democrats would likely need about a dozen Republicans to support removal. Only eight federal judges have ever been convicted by the Senate. Trump has been impeached twice, in December 2019 and January 2021, but was acquitted on both occasions.