One of the 11 Democrats who missed out on voting to impeach Pete Hegseth blamed a traffic jam on not being able to attend but was seen just outside the Capitol as the vote took place.
Jonathan Jackson of Illinois was one of the nearly dozen Democrats whom, had they shown up, could have potentially gotten Hegseth on the first step to removal from the Pentagon.
Jackson said in a statement that he was heading to the floor to vote to impeach but ‘a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus caused a delay that resulted in the vote closing’ before he could arrive.
However, TMZ reported seeing Jackson ‘right outside the Capitol with time to spare’ on the night of the vote, witnessing him filming a social media video on the Capitol steps minutes before the vote closed.
When confronted by the outlet on Wednesday, Jackson still cited the traffic jam but called his absence ‘inexcusable.’
He added that the Capitol steps becomes ‘a very chaotic area’ when Congress is in session.
‘It’s not making an excuse for it, I should’ve been able to make the vote, it was procedural,’ he said.
Jackson also defended his record, saying he was the first member of Congress to call on Hegseth to resign.
Jonathan Jackson of Illinois was one of the nearly dozen Democrats whom, had they shown up, could have potentially gotten Hegseth on the first step to removal from the Pentagon
One of the 11 Democrats who missed out on voting to impeach Pete Hegseth blamed a traffic jam on not being able to attend but was seen just outside the Capitol as the vote took 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 added before walking away.
Republican Thomas Massie, who filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth, was the lone Republican to signal in favor in a 211-204 vote.
However, The New York Times reported Republicans were worried absences of their own would mean Hegseth’s impeachment would move forward.
But 11 Democrats, including Jackson, missed out on casting a ballot.
While Jackson and many of the missing lawmakers in DC blamed traffic, Pelosi flew back to California Tuesday, SFGate reported.
Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said that Pelosi supports the effort and would’ve moved the impeachment forward but was being honored by a local veterans’ group.
‘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 that provides services to veterans in the region.
Massie reacts following a procedural vote held by the US House of Representatives on whether to send the potential impeachment of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee
Nancy Pelosi skipped out on being a potentially crucial vote on Pete Hegseth’s impeachment to receive a lifetime achievement award as Democrats bid to depose the Pentagon chief failed
Many Democrats were furious at the missing members after the effort came up short on Tuesday night.
‘We knew that this vote was coming, so people should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote,’ said California Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
‘I don’t know why people weren’t here. Someone may have a health issue. I don’t know. But obviously, having a vote like that on attendance is hard. That hurts,’ said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
‘You should show up and do your job,’ added Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan in an interview with CNN.
Other Democrats said traffic entering the Capitol due to a police escort for a bus during the vote stopped them from casting their ballot.
In addition to Jackson, Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, Laura Gillen of New York, Marilyn Strickland of Washington and Julia Brownley of California all blamed the traffic, with Brownley claiming Johnson closed the vote before they could arrive.
Another California Congressman, Lou Correa, said he was missing votes due to undergoing a medical procedure and said he was staying home ‘on my doctor’s advice.’
Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada cited a ‘personal emergency’ that delayed his arrival.
US Representative Melanie Stansbury said traffic entering the Capitol due to a police escort for a bus during the vote stopped them from casting their ballot
‘I missed an important vote,’ he said in a floor speech on Wednesday. ‘I take full responsibility. The accountability I demand of others applies to me, too.’
Congressmembers Haley Stevens and Frederica Wilson have given no public explanation for their absences.
Stevens is a lame duck after a failed run for Senate, Wilson is retiring at the end of this Congress.
Massie’s eight articles of impeachment accuse Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional authorization, ignoring laws intended to minimize civilian casualties and illegally directing the seizure of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Donald Trump celebrated the vote on his Truth Social feed Monday night, calling it 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,’ he 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!’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Congressman Massie for comment.
The resolution now goes to the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee, which can take it up or leave it untouched, allowing the impeachment push to stall without a vote on the charges.
But the reprieve could be short-lived as Democrats are set to take control of Congress on January 3 and could launch a fresh impeachment effort.
Massie’s resolution will expire when the new Congress convenes, meaning another lawmaker would have to reintroduce the charges.
