The House is leaving Washington early, delaying a vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until after the November midterm elections, according to NBC News.
House Republican leadership announced Wednesday (September 16) that lawmakers would finish their scheduled business that afternoon and would no longer hold votes Thursday (September 17), as planned, NBC News reported.
The House is now scheduled to remain out until after the midterm elections.
The decision comes after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Tuesday (September 15). According to The New Republic, Massie filed the resolution as a privileged measure, which requires the House to take it up within two legislative days.
Massie's articles accuse Hegseth of multiple offenses related to the Trump administration's military actions, including conducting military operations in Iran without congressional authorization and continuing military action after the limits established by the War Powers Resolution.
He also accused Hegseth of initiating an unlawful war in Yemen and suppressing Sen. Mark Kelly's right to free speech, according to the resolution.
Speaker Mike Johnson has denied that the House's early departure was intended to avoid the impeachment vote.
NBC News reported that Johnson called Massie's effort a "publicity stunt" and said lawmakers would address the resolution when they return.
Massie has criticized the decision to leave Washington before the House could take up his resolution. The House could return before the midterm elections if Johnson calls lawmakers back.
Otherwise, the impeachment resolution is expected to remain pending until Congress reconvenes after the elections.
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.