Rep. Thomas Massie, R‑Ky., filed eight articles of impeachment against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Under House rules, the articles would have had to be considered by the following day.
Instead, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R‑La., announced that the House would adjourn early today, meaning there will be no session tomorrow. The chamber will not reconvene for business until after the midterm elections in mid‑November.
Massie’s allegation
Massie contends that Johnson sent members home early specifically to avoid a vote related to Hegseth. He argues that if the House had brought the impeachment articles to the floor, Republicans would likely have offered a “motion to table” – a procedural move intended to set aside the impeachment effort.
According to Massie, the motion to table would have forced members to take a difficult vote on whether to block the impeachment process rather than on the impeachment itself. He believes the House could have defeated the motion, which would then have triggered votes on actually impeaching Hegseth.
Speaker’s rationale
Johnson has not provided a detailed public explanation for the early adjournment beyond standard scheduling considerations. The decision effectively prevents any immediate consideration of Massie’s impeachment articles.
Implications for House control
If the House were to table the articles, the impeachment effort would be halted. Conversely, if the motion to table failed, the chamber would move forward to consider the impeachment resolutions. The procedural maneuver, according to Massie, is a way to shield members from a contentious vote on the actual issue.
Massie told reporters, “A vote on a motion to table. He may not have survived that vote.” He believes the House could have defeated the motion, leading to a full impeachment vote on Hegseth.
Context
The situation highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican‑controlled House over how to handle high‑profile impeachment attempts. While the impeachment articles have not yet been formally debated, the early adjournment has sparked debate about procedural fairness and the use of parliamentary tactics to manage contentious issues.
Observers note that the House will remain inactive on this matter until after the November midterms, leaving the impeachment question unresolved for the remainder of the current session.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
