House Republicans Block Hegseth Impeachment Push as Jim Jordan Takes GOP Helm Amid Midterm Fallout
WASHINGTON — In a closely watched procedural vote late Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives derailed an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring eight articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to the Judiciary Committee by a 211-204 margin. Massie was the sole Republican to side with Democrats in support of advancing the measure. Eleven Democrats were absent, contributing to the outcome in a chamber still under GOP control until the new Congress is seated in January.
The articles accused Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors related to the conduct of the Iran conflict, including alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution and unauthorized military operations. Hegseth, in a rare Pentagon briefing, dismissed the effort as a “farce” and “political spectacle.” President Donald Trump celebrated the result on social media, calling the Democratic-backed push a failure and praising Hegseth’s performance. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated the issue is not closed, noting Democrats will reassess once they assume the majority following last week’s midterm elections, in which the party captured control of both chambers.
The same day, House Republicans selected Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as their minority leader for the 120th Congress in a closed-door vote of 106-73 over outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Speaker Mike Johnson had previously announced he would not seek a leadership role in the new Congress. Jordan, a longtime Freedom Caucus member and Trump ally known for aggressive oversight, framed the choice as a commitment to fight for “more freedom” against what he described as Democratic expansions of government. The selection positions him to lead opposition to anticipated Democratic investigations into the Trump administration.
In related national security news, British counter-terrorism police, working with the FBI and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command, arrested a 41-year-old senior U.S. Army soldier near Gloucester on suspicion of espionage related to Russia. The soldier, assigned to NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps headquarters at Imjin Barracks, faces allegations under the UK National Security Act 2023 involving protected information and assistance to a foreign intelligence service. FBI Director Kash Patel described the case as involving serious allegations of concern to the United States and its allies. The arrest is not linked to separate recent incidents involving U.S. aircraft movements from UK bases amid reported Iranian threats.
Vote counting continues in the Mississippi Senate race, where Democrat Scott Colom holds a narrow lead of roughly 2,500–3,000 votes over incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith as key ballot deadlines pass. The contest remains uncalled and represents one of the few outstanding races after Democrats’ broader midterm gains. Both sides have expressed confidence; Mississippi does not have automatic recounts for Senate races.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of post-midterm realignment, ongoing foreign policy tensions, and domestic political maneuvering. Senate Republicans separately reelected John Thune as their leader. 17GEN4.com
Politico
CNN
BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxly4y5jzl0qo and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d7q77xgw0vo); Roll Call
The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/10/jim-jordan-house-republican-leader); Axios; ABC News; CBS News; Washington Post reporting.
Hegseth Impeachment Blocked, Jim Jordan Elected House GOP Leader | Breaking US News Nov 11 2026 | 17GEN4
House Republicans block Pete Hegseth impeachment vote 211-204 after Massie resolution; Jim Jordan wins minority leader race over Scalise post-midterms. US Army soldier arrested in UK on Russia espionage suspicions. Mississippi Senate race remains tight. Latest national headlines, analysis, and updates from 17GEN4 News.
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