Did Democrats save Pete Hegseth from impeachment?

Eleven Democrats are absent from a procedural vote that narrowly shelves a House impeachment vote against US defence secretary. The United States House ⁠of Representatives has blocked an attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a surprise reprieve for President Donald Trump’s administration as Republicans reel from their midterm election defeat . The impeachment articles were introduced by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, but the effort was backed primarily by Democrats.

They accuse Hegseth of abuses of power and conducting illegal military operations. The Republican-led House voted 211-204 on Tuesday to refer the articles back to the House Judiciary Committee, where they could remain indefinitely. The procedural move in effect killed the impeachment drive for the duration of the current Congress’s term, which ends in eight weeks.

On January 3, Democrats will take control of the House and Senate. The vote was not on whether to impeach Hegseth.