A 211-204 House vote Tuesday, Nov. 10, sent Rep. Thomas Massie’s impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee, leaving lawmakers without a decision on whether to impeach him.
The House Clerk recorded the question as a motion to refer the measure to the House Judiciary Committee. The roll call showed 211 votes in favor, 204 against and zero members marked present; 18 did not vote. Republicans cast 210 votes for referral and one against. Democrats cast 203 against and none for it, while one independent voted for referral. Eighteen members did not vote: 11 Democrats and seven Republicans. EconoTimes previously covered the committee referral vote.
Massie’s H. Res. 1655 contains eight articles alleging misconduct involving military operations in Iran and Yemen, civilian protection, strikes on vessels and the January operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The allegations are claims in the resolution; the referral vote made no findings about them.
CBS News reported that the result might have differed if the 11 Democrats who did not vote had attended. The Clerk’s record lists them as not voting and does not establish whether they were present or how they would have voted.
Rep. Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat, said after the vote, “This is not over.”
Under the Constitution, the House decides whether to impeach, and the Senate conducts any impeachment trial. Tuesday’s referral sent the resolution to the Judiciary Committee but did not impeach Hegseth.
