House vote stalls Hegseth impeachment as new House leadership takes shape

The U.S. House of Representatives has effectively concluded the effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Tuesday, members voted 211 to 204 to return the impeachment articles to the House Judiciary Committee for review. This procedural move prevents a full floor vote on the resolution, making it highly unlikely that the issue will be addressed before the current congressional session concludes.

The impeachment drive was originally reintroduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie on Monday. Massie accused Hegseth of committing high crimes related to the ongoing war with Iran, as well as U.S. military strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. NPR correspondent Eric McDaniel described the vote as a strategic game of attendance, noting that while there were enough Democrats in Washington to pass the resolution, not enough were present on the floor to override the Republican simple majority.

Ohio Representative Warren Davidson, a member of the majority party, expressed his belief that the war in Iran is unconstitutional. However, he argued that Hegseth was being used as a scapegoat for established political trends in Washington. The vote occurred on a busy legislative day for Republicans, who also released a report from the House Oversight Committee regarding the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The report concluded that federal agencies mishandled criminal investigations and failed survivors.

In a significant leadership shift, House Republicans voted to replace Speaker Mike Johnson, who is stepping down after the party's losses in last week's midterm elections. Jim Jordan, a 62-year-old representative from Ohio, was selected as the new minority leader. Jordan brings substantial experience from the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, panels that are expected to play a central role in the new Congress as Democrats plan investigations into President Trump and his administration.

NPR correspondent Barbara Sprunt characterized the recent election as a choice between continuity and change, viewing Jordan's selection as a clear representation of the latter. She noted that Jordan's appointment, alongside the selection of Stephen Miller as the president's new chief of staff, signals a move toward a more combative political approach. Democratic leadership elections are expected to occur next week, with current leaders Hakeem Jeffries in the House and Chuck Schumer in the Senate likely to remain in their positions.

In separate news, federal prosecutors in Manhattan have indicted three men accused of being Iran-backed operatives involved in nearly 20 terrorist attacks and attempts in Europe and the United States. The charges include a plot from September targeting a British air base where American forces were stationed. The Justice Department stated that some of these attacks were directed live via FaceTime from Iraq.

The accused men are alleged to have worked for Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the Iraqi militia Kata'ib Hezbollah, both of which are classified as terrorist groups. Seven of the attacks occurred in Britain, involving arson, explosives, and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London. In a related but separate matter, British counter-terrorism police arrested a 41-year-old U.S. Army soldier on suspicion of spying for Russia. Authorities emphasized that this case is not linked to the Iran-related indictment, though both incidents have raised concerns about security around American military bases in the UK.

The composition of the new Congress also reflects changes in veteran representation. The 120th Congress is expected to include at least 80 veterans, a figure that represents a decline to 15 percent from the current 19 percent. This decrease is attributed to demographics, as fewer Americans serve in the all-volunteer military compared to previous drafted generations. The new body will host more female veterans than any previous class, with analysis suggesting Democrats strategically selected veterans for difficult races in districts President Trump won in 2024.

Veterans are also playing a vital role in the electoral process itself. The group Vet the Vote reported that more than 175,000 veterans and their family members volunteered as poll workers for the recent midterm elections. These volunteers came from all 50 states, helping to support understaffed polling officials nationwide. Research indicates that veterans have consistently turned out in higher numbers than civilians in every election since 2014, a trend that is particularly pronounced during midterm cycles.