Adam Smith hedges on Hegseth impeachment
The gist
Rep. Adam Smith of Bellevue, Washington, backed Rep. Thomas Massie's eight-charge impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The House defeated the resolution 211-204, but Democrats could revive it in 2027.
How it unfolded
- Nov 3, 2026Democrats swept the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections.
- Nov 4, 2026A day after Democrats secured Congress, Rep. Adam Smith vowed aggressive oversight of the Department of Defense and backed efforts to impeach Hegseth.
- Nov 5, 2026Smith said he supports Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment effort, which spans eight charges and which Massie may force to a House vote next week.
Key terms
- impeachment
- The process by which a legislature brings charges against an official for serious misconduct, possibly leading to removal after trial.
- midterm elections
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
- ranking Democrat
- The most senior committee member from the minority party in a US congressional or state legislative body.
Source: Wikipedia