Republican members of the US House of Representatives have blocked an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war. On Tuesday, the House voted 211-204 to refer the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively stalling a scheduled Wednesday vote on bringing formal charges against Hegseth.

Resolution and Procedural Move

The resolution was introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a known critic of President Donald Trump. He filed the measure at the start of the first post-election session on Monday. According to US media reports, the procedural motion to send the resolution to committee was approved, preventing an immediate floor vote on impeachment.

Political Context

The development brings political relief to President Trump, coming just days after his party suffered a devastating defeat in the midterm elections. The Republican move signals an attempt at party unity, though Massie's initiative underscores that anti-Trump sentiment within the party remains active.

Next Steps

The resolution now moves to the Judiciary Committee, where hearings and deliberations will determine its fate. If the committee advances it, the full House could vote on it later. However, with Republicans holding a majority, the likelihood of the resolution passing remains low, according to political observers. The formal impeachment process against Hegseth now depends on the committee's decision.