Democrat Lawmakers Face Scrutiny for Missing Impeachment Vote Amid Traffic Claims

The absence of a Democratic lawmaker from a House vote concerning the impeachment of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has raised questions. On Tuesday, a Republican motion to return Representative Thomas Massie’s impeachment articles against Hegseth to committee succeeded with a 211-204 vote. This effectively halted the impeachment effort. Reports indicate that 11 lawmakers, including some who supported the impeachment, missed the vote.

Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson released a statement on social media. He explained that a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus delay resulted in the vote concluding before he and others could reach the chamber. He later recorded his vote against the motion in the Congressional Record, reiterating his stance that Secretary Hegseth should face impeachment.

However, his account met with skepticism. TMZ reporter Charlie Cotton observed Jackson at the vote location with time to spare. Cotton claimed to have seen Jackson around 5:58 p.m., while the vote concluded at 6:05 p.m., suggesting Jackson was there in time to cast a vote. TMZ did not provide visual evidence of Jackson’s presence, and Newsweek could not independently verify the claim. TMZ later posted a video of a conversation between Cotton and Jackson. When questioned, Jackson attributed his absence to traffic but acknowledged a failure to attend the vote, calling the traffic excuse insufficient.

Jackson reiterated his support for Hegseth’s removal, emphasizing that he was the first to demand Hegseth’s resignation. ABC News reported that the 15-minute vote remained open for 29 minutes, with no precise public listing of the time.

Jackson was not alone in citing traffic issues for missing the vote. Representative Melanie Stansbury’s office indicated she faced a similar delay due to traffic and a police escort, arriving moments after the vote closed. Her office confirmed her opposition to the motion, adding her belief in impeaching Hegseth.

Representative Marilyn Strickland’s staff noted a nearly identical traffic problem, missing the vote by one minute. She would have opposed the motion. Representative Laura Gillen also cited the traffic and wrote on social media about her intended no vote, supporting Hegseth’s impeachment.

The absent Democrats faced criticism from their counterparts. Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed expressed disapproval, stressing the importance of fulfilling their duties. Representative-elect Richard Ojeda echoed this sentiment, blaming those who missed the vote.

Amid the situation, former President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome. On Truth Social, he proclaimed, “The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!” He commended Republicans for supporting Hegseth, with the exception of Massie. Trump highlighted military achievements and recruitment numbers as evidence of Hegseth’s exoneration.

The Pentagon viewed the referral of impeachment articles to the House Judiciary Committee as a victory. Spokesperson Sean Parnell stated they anticipate ending the impeachment in committee, underscoring their belief in factual assessments prevailing over distractions.