update | House Republicans are defending Pete Hegseth from an impeachment bid derailed by absentee Democrats.
House Republicans voted 211-204 to block an impeachment resolution against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, referring the articles introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massey to the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee.
The move effectively short-circuits proceedings and prevents a full vote, making further action unlikely for the remainder of the current congressional term.
However, official voting records released by the Clerk's Office of the US House of Representatives reveal that 11 absent Democratic lawmakers could have completely reversed the outcome.
With 18 members in total unable to vote, the absence of the 11 Democrats allowed Republicans to narrowly gain the number needed to bury the resolution in committee. Despite the temporary setback, the measure is expected to rise again when Democrats take control of Congress in January.