UPDATE: Since this post was published earlier today, House Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned the House of Representatives prematurely rather than allow a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to go to the floor.
This was in the wake of the House last night voting for the fourth time to block President Trump from taking further military action against Iran. The vote was 220 to 204, with a handful of Republicans crossing over to join Democrats in the condemnation of the illegal war.
Rather than risk a similar embarrassment on the Hegseth impeachment vote, Johnson threw in the towel and is sending Congress home a day early.
“I think it shows the cowardice of the Republican Party,” Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal said. “They are canceling votes to do business for the American people because they are afraid that that impeachment resolution of Pete Hegseth would pass on a bipartisan basis.”
Related:
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House votes to limit Trump’s power to strike Iran for 3rd time, as 7 Republicans defect
By J.C. Bruce
Will Donald Trump be impeached before the House of Representatives shuts down at the end of this week?
How about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth?
We have a definitive answer to the first question, and the second is up in the air.
Yesterday, a resolution to impeach Trump sponsored by Democrat Rep. Al Green of Texas—his second in two years—failed by a 232-147 vote.
So, no, Trump’s job is safe for the time being. By the end of this week, House members will be flying home and are not scheduled to return until after the Nov. 3 election.
The outcome was interesting, though, if not unexpected. The last time Green tried this—in June of 2025— it was shot down by a bigger margin, with 128 Democrats joining 216 Republicans.
This time, only 18 Democrats added their votes to the Republican majority, with 46 Dems merely voting “present,” among them Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
It wasn’t just Democrats who voted present. Another was Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who yesterday also introduced a separate resolution calling for Hegseth’s impeachment.
In a 67-minute floor speech, Massie, in part, said:
“Secretary Hegseth has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as Secretary of Defense and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States of America. (He) will remain a threat to civilians and the laws of war, the integrity of United States diplomacy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law.”
As ABC News notes:
Unless GOP leaders change the floor schedule, the House must hold a vote on the resolution within two legislative days -- by Thursday, which would force Republicans to go on the record defending Hegseth ahead of the high-stakes midterm elections. GOP leaders could offer a motion to table the resolution or cancel the legislative session scheduled for Thursday to avoid the vote.
It’s all political theater, of course, and even if a vote is held, Republicans likely have the votes to defeat the resolution.
Still, it shows how wobbly things are becoming in Congress, with polls showing that Democrats are likely to win enough seats in the midterm election to take over.
Which is why Trump is so desperate to interfere with this election.
Al Green’s resolution may not have had the traction it needed this time. But it could be a different story come January when a new Congress is seated.
News 2 Use
Andy Rock asked a pertinent question in response to yesterday’s post announcing the new News 2 Use section on the Tropic Press website, where we are compiling a library of reference articles on commonly asked questions.
I have searched everywhere but can’t find the answer to this question. If I have requested a mail-in ballot, can I still vote in person if I don’t have the mail-in ballot with me? I know I can just hand in my mail ballot at the polling place, but what if I don’t have the ballot with me? Can I still just go ahead and cast my vote in person?
Here’s the answer I got from my local elections office:
A registered voter who requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot but decides to vote at the polls should surrender the Vote-by-Mail ballot at the polls so it may be cancelled.
A registered voter who requested a Vote-by-Mail ballot but cannot surrender the Vote-by-Mail ballot will be allowed to vote a regular ballot. After voting in person, we request that the voter destroy their original Vote-by-Mail ballot if they left it at home or if they come across it in the future.
A person who requested and returned a Vote-by-Mail ballot to the Supervisor of Elections office may not go to the polls to vote. Voters who vote more than once in the same election commit a felony and will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
This was from Collier County, but rules regarding mail-in voting are generally applicable throughout Florida.
For more localized information, you need to check with your local office depending on where you live in the state.
There is a handy link on the News 2 Use page where you can find your local office. You can check it out here.
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Thanks.
J.C. Bruce
So the House is afraid that bringing impeachment vote for Hegseth would pass?!?
I am not surprised by Johnson's cowardice. He is terrified that it might pass.