House Democrats fail to advance Pete Hegseth impeachment effort
Why it matters: The miss exposed attendance and vote-counting problems as Hakeem Jeffries prepares to lead a large House majority.
The House failed to move forward with an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, an early setback for Democrats as they prepare to wield a larger majority. NPR reported that 11 Democrats did not vote; if they had been present, and no additional Republicans had voted, the measure would have advanced. Only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, backed the push. The result raised questions about floor management and caucus discipline under House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among the Democrats who missed the vote after returning to San Francisco for a veterans' event.