Pete Hegseth survives effort to impeach him | First Thing

House Republicans block impeachment resolution that cited US military actions in Iran, Yemen and Venezuela. Plus, SS United States to be sunk to create artificial reef

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Good morning. House Republicans have blocked an effort to impeach Pete Hegseth. The defense secretary dismissed the impeachment resolution from a Republican lawmaker as “political spectacle”, saying it was an attempt to set up a “show trial”. Top Democrats announced their support for the resolution, but Republicans moved to kill it by referring it to the judiciary committee.

Thomas Massie’s 34-page resolution, which he read aloud on the House floor, centered on the Iran war. Hegseth said the articles targeted not just him but the troops who carried out his orders. He insisted that every operation the articles cite – including strikes on Iran and Yemen, attacks on alleged drug boats and the capture of Venezuela’s now former leader Nicolás Maduro – was lawful, ordered by Donald Trump and notified to Congress.

Why has the US Treasury chief reportedly moved? Scott Bessent has relocated from his home in the Washington area to a military base after an Iranian threat against his life, the New York Times reported. Bessent has led ‌the US sanctions and economic pressure campaign against Iran, called Operation Economic Outcast, since August.