Washington: The US House of Representatives has rejected an impeachment resolution against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
The impeachment attempt failed by 211 votes to 204. The resolution had been introduced by Thomas Massie, a member of President Trump’s own Republican Party.
Hegseth was accused over the killing of children and other innocent civilians in a US strike on a school in Minab, Iran. The resolution alleged that he violated the US Constitution and abused his office.
President Trump had announced his support for Hegseth in the event of impeachment, while Hegseth said the resolution could do him no harm, calling it a spectacle and a conspiracy against all US troops.
Hegseth had also said that no war secretary in US history has been removed during a military operation, and that the military action was lawful.
President Donald Trump said the Democrats’ attempt to impeach Hegseth had failed badly, adding that every Republican except “failed” Thomas Massie voted in Hegseth’s support.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that successes in Venezuela and Iran, the best recruitment in US military history, long waiting lists to join the military and the troops’ extraordinary spirit were behind the support for Hegseth.
Calling Hegseth a patriotic American, Trump said he had been cleared of the charges. He accused the Democrats of misusing American institutions for political purposes and said they must be stopped.
Trump ended his statement by once again repeating his political slogan, “Make America Great Again.”