House Flees Town, Punts Hegseth Impeachment Vote
House Flees Town, Punts Hegseth Impeachment Vote
The News
House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled Thursday's votes on Wednesday and sent lawmakers home early, a move that shelves a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until after the November midterm elections.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters Wednesday that Thursday's scheduled legislative day was off, according to The Gateway Pundit and Just the News.
NBC News reported the early exit punts the Hegseth impeachment vote past the November elections. The New Republic reported Republicans are sending members home to avoid a vote on impeaching Hegseth.
The Count
The New York Post reported the House is leaving after just seven workdays since the summer break ended, and will not be back until after the midterms. The New York Post referred to Hegseth as secretary of war; other outlets in the cluster called him defense secretary.
Timeline
Johnson tells reporters that Thursday's scheduled House votes are canceled and lawmakers will head home, according to The Gateway Pundit and Just the News.
RSBNetwork, citing Politico, reports Johnson canceled Thursday's votes, cutting the fall recess start short with the midterms weeks away.
NBC News reports the early departure pushes the Hegseth impeachment vote past the November elections.
Reactions
Johnson framed the schedule change as canceling Thursday's legislative day and sending lawmakers home for a break, Newsweek reported.
The New Republic, a left-leaning outlet, cast the move as Republicans dodging an embarrassing floor vote on Hegseth's impeachment.
The Daily Caller, on the right, faulted leadership from a different angle, reporting the House is leaving Washington without acting on artificial intelligence, the debt or mass surveillance.
The New York Post noted the chamber is going home after only seven workdays since the summer recess ended.
What's Next
The House is out of town for weeks, RSBNetwork reported, with members turning to their own re-election races as the midterms approach.
Newsweek reported Johnson's cancellation sends lawmakers home for a seven-day break; other outlets in the cluster reported the chamber will not return until after the November elections.
The impeachment vote on Hegseth, along with pending AI legislation Newsweek listed as in progress, waits on the House's return.
Poll
Should the House have stayed in session to vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth?
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