Massie claims GOP leaders found support for Hegseth impeachment

Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑Ky.) told reporters on Wednesday that House GOP leaders decided to adjourn the lower chamber early because they had confirmed support for his effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie said the absence of a vote on the motion was a deliberate signal that the leadership had conducted a whip check and found enough Republican backing to move the impeachment proposal forward.

The congressman noted that the early adjournment was not a procedural convenience but a strategic move. By holding the chamber home, the leadership could avoid a public vote that might expose divisions or weaken the GOP’s negotiating position. The whip check, a routine internal survey of party members’ stances, apparently revealed a sufficient coalition of Republicans willing to back the impeachment resolution, giving the leadership confidence to proceed without a floor vote.

If the leadership proceeds, the next steps will likely involve drafting a formal resolution and scheduling a debate on the House floor. The outcome will depend on the broader GOP caucus’s willingness to confront the Defense Department’s leadership and the potential political fallout from an impeachment proceeding.