House Skips Hegseth Impeachment Vote by Starting 7-Week Recess Early
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Sep 16
House Skips Hegseth Impeachment Vote by Starting 7-Week Recess Early
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Sep 16
Summary
Thursday’s potential impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pushed past the Nov. 3 midterms after House Republican leaders ended the chamber’s work a day early.
Mike Johnson cut short a month with only six House session days, and lawmakers will not return to Washington until after the election as they disperse to campaign.
Thomas Massie said the schedule change was meant to avoid an awkward vote on his surprise resolution accusing Hegseth of unlawful military actions in Iran and unauthorized troop deployments.
Scrutiny of the war has already intensified: the House voted 220-204 on Tuesday to order the White House to end the Iran war, with seven Republicans joining Democrats.
Johnson called Massie’s effort a publicity stunt and said it would be tabled on return, while Democrats argued the early exit showed GOP leaders feared the optics of an impeachment vote.