Hegseth impeachment bid fails by 7 votes, Jeffries criticized
The gist
The US House voted 211-204 to send Hegseth impeachment articles to committee, ending the bid.
Democrats' 11 absences and leader Jeffries' handling drew criticism before his expected speakership.
How it unfolded
- Dec 16, 2025Representative Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth; the next day Representative Haley Stevens, also of Michigan, filed articles against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Nov 9, 2026Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky formally introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in the House.
- Nov 10, 2026Hegseth held his first Pentagon press conference in more than six months and pushed back against the impeachment effort, calling it a "farce" and "sabotage."
Key terms
- articles of impeachment
- The process by which a legislature brings charges against an official for serious misconduct, possibly leading to removal after trial.
- whip the vote
- An official of a political party who ensures party discipline among legislators.
- procedural motion
- A legislative motion that, due to its special status, can bypass normal scheduling and be brought to a vote quickly.
Source: Wikipedia