One of 11 House Democrats who missed Tuesday’s vote on whether to advance impeachment proceedings against Pete Hegseth blamed a traffic delay, even though he was seen outside the Capitol shortly before the vote ended.
Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson was among the Democrats whose presence could have helped push the effort to the next stage of the process aimed at removing Hegseth as Pentagon chief.
Jackson said he was on his way to the House floor to support impeachment when “a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus caused a delay” and the vote closed before he arrived.
But TMZ reported that Jackson was “right outside the Capitol with time to spare.” The outlet said he was recording a social media video on the Capitol steps just minutes before the voting period ended.
Confronted by TMZ on Wednesday, Jackson again pointed to the traffic but acknowledged that missing the vote was “inexcusable.”
He also said the steps outside the Capitol can become “a very chaotic area” while Congress is in session.
“It’s not making an excuse for it. I should’ve been able to make the vote. It was procedural,” Jackson said.
Jackson defended his broader record on Hegseth, noting that he was the first member of Congress to call for the defense secretary’s resignation.
Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson was among nearly a dozen Democrats whose attendance could have helped move the effort to remove Hegseth from the Pentagon forward
One of 11 Democrats who missed the vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth blamed traffic, despite being seen outside the Capitol as the vote was taking place
“It was a mistake, and I wish I could answer you in any more detail, but I support the removal of Pete Hegseth,” Jackson said before walking away.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who introduced the impeachment articles, was the only Republican to vote in favor as the measure failed 211-204.
However, The New York Times reported that Republicans had been concerned their own absences could allow the impeachment effort to advance.
Ultimately, 11 Democrats, including Jackson, did not cast ballots.
Jackson and several other absent lawmakers in Washington cited traffic problems. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, had already returned to California on Tuesday, SFGate reported.
Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said she supported moving forward with impeachment but was attending a veterans’ event where she was being honored.
“Speaker Emerita Pelosi returned to San Francisco to join and honor local veterans at Swords to Plowshares’ 30th Annual Veterans Day Celebration tonight, an important and longstanding district tradition she regularly attends and will mark for the last time as a Member of Congress by receiving the Lifetime Advocate for Veterans Award,” Krager said.
Swords to Plowshares is a Bay Area nonprofit organization that provides support and services to local veterans.
Massie reacts after a procedural vote in the US House on whether to send the proposed impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee
Nancy Pelosi missed what could have been a crucial vote on Hegseth’s impeachment while attending a veterans’ event to accept a lifetime achievement award
The failed vote prompted anger among Democrats, many of whom criticized colleagues who were not present Tuesday night.
“We knew that this vote was coming, so people should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote,” California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove said.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she did not know why some lawmakers were absent and acknowledged that health concerns could have played a role. “But obviously, having a vote like that on attendance is hard. That hurts,” she said.
“You should show up and do your job,” Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed told CNN.
Several Democrats said a police-escorted bus had caused severe congestion around the Capitol, preventing them from reaching the chamber before voting ended.
Along with Jackson, New Mexico Representative Melanie Stansbury, Colorado Representative Brittany Pettersen, New York Representative Laura Gillen, Washington Representative Marilyn Strickland and California Representative Julia Brownley cited traffic. Brownley also alleged that Speaker Mike Johnson closed the vote before they could get there.
California Representative Lou Correa said he missed the vote while recovering from a medical procedure and was staying home “on my doctor’s advice.”
Nevada Representative Steven Horsford said a “personal emergency” delayed his arrival.
US Representative Melanie Stansbury said traffic caused by a police-escorted bus prevented her from reaching the chamber in time to vote
“I missed an important vote,” Horsford said in a House speech Wednesday. “I take full responsibility. The accountability I demand of others applies to me, too.”
Representatives Haley Stevens and Frederica Wilson have not publicly explained why they were absent.
Stevens is a lame duck after an unsuccessful Senate campaign, while Wilson plans to retire at the end of the current Congress.
Massie’s eight articles accuse Hegseth of conducting military action in Iran without congressional authorization, disregarding laws designed to limit civilian casualties and unlawfully ordering the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social Tuesday night, describing it as an “exoneration” of Hegseth.
“The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED! Every single Republican, except Thomas Massie, a major LOSER, voted in favor of Pete,” Trump wrote.
“Again, Victories in Venezuela and Iran, the Best Recruitment Numbers in the History of the Military (Long waiting lists to get in!), and Spirit like rarely seen before, led to the EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot. The Democrats continue to weaponize and abuse the United States of America. They must be stopped!”
Our News Outlet has contacted Representative Massie for comment.
The resolution now moves to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, which may consider it or leave it inactive, effectively halting the impeachment effort without a vote on the allegations.
That pause may not last long. Democrats are scheduled to take control of Congress on January 3 and could introduce a new impeachment resolution.
Massie’s current resolution will expire when the new Congress begins, requiring another lawmaker to refile the charges.
