House Delays Hegseth Impeachment

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled Thursday votes and sent members home early for a seven-week recess. The move stalled Rep. Thomas Massie’s privileged impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which otherwise required House action within two legislative days. Massie said Hegseth should be impeached for waging the Iran war without congressional authorization and for other alleged abuses. Before leaving, the House passed an Iran war-powers resolution and had been scheduled to vote on Russia sanctions, while Democrats urged more work on artificial intelligence safeguards. Johnson called Massie’s effort a “publicity stunt” and said it would be tabled later. Massie said he had predicted leaders would cancel Congress to avoid the vote. The House is not expected back until after the midterm elections.