House Democrats miss Hegseth impeachment vote after traffic disruption

Summarised from 4 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 00:21 · Archive

An effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth failed after eleven Democrats missed a procedural vote on Tuesday, with some citing traffic delays near the Capitol.

The House voted 211-204 on Tuesday to refer articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively blocking a full vote on whether to impeach him. Eleven Democrats and seven Republicans did not vote. Had just four more Democrats been present and voting against the motion, the articles would have advanced to a full impeachment vote.

Several absent Democrats blamed a traffic incident near the Capitol. Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico wrote on social media that she and other members were blocked from entering the Capitol due to a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus during the vote. She later released a four-minute apology video on Wednesday, saying: 'I am genuinely and sincerely sorry. But this is not the end — it is just the beginning.'

Rep. Lou Correa of California provided a different explanation, stating he underwent emergency open-heart surgery on Tuesday. 'The surgery went well, and I am now recovering,' he posted on social media.

Constituents of absent Democrats expressed frustration. One Hofstra student told the New York Post that blaming traffic was 'a bogus excuse'. Another voter, Anthony Simpson, said he felt duped and was angry that the vote was not treated as a priority. One gender studies professor said she wanted to remain hopeful it was merely a scheduling error, though she expressed doubt about politicians' priorities.

Stansbury emphasised in her video that she had been an original co-sponsor of one of the first impeachment resolutions against Hegseth earlier in the year. The Guardian reported that the failure resulted from a combination of traffic disruptions and disorganisation among Democrats. If Hegseth had been impeached, he would have joined only two other Cabinet secretaries in history to face that outcome: William Belknap in the 19th century and Alejandro Mayorkas.

How it is being reported

• Pete Hegseth impeachment effort dies in the House as absent Democrats couldn't beat the trafficPete Hegseth narrowly avoided becoming only the third cabinet secretary ever impeached after 11 absent Democrats failed to reach the House floor.Fox News · 13 Nov, 20:13
• Pete Hegseth is finished… | The Low DownTMZ and the New York Post discuss whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be impeached once Democrats take control of Congress.New York Post · 13 Nov, 16:41
• Jeffries shredded over Hegseth impeachment snafu as Dem jockeys for speaker’s gavelEleven absent House Democrats handed Republicans a win on the Pete Hegseth impeachment vote, raising questions about Hakeem Jeffries' leadership.Fox News · 13 Nov, 12:00
• Democrats fumbled the Hegseth impeachment. That could be a blessing in disguise | Claire FinkelsteinThe failed move could lead to a more robust effort against the defense secretary in the next Congress. Here’s how it could look A traffic jam, combined with disorganization on the part of Democrats, enabled House Republicans to scuttle the representative Thomas Massie’s articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth on Wednesday. While recriminations are now flying among Democrats, the fumble may have been a blessing in disguise. Democrats can now refocus the articles against the defense secretary, possibly to better effect. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Nov, 12:00
• House Dem misses Hegseth impeachment vote because of major medical procedure one week after Election DayDemocratic Rep. Lou Correa, one of the House members who did not vote Tuesday on the Hegseth impeachment issue, underwent open-heart surgery that day.Fox News · 12 Nov, 18:40
• Democrat roasted for blaming missing vote for Hegseth’s impeachment on traffic‘I am genuinely and sincerely sorry. But, this is not the end — it is just the beginning,’ Rep. Melanie Stansbury saidIndependent World · 12 Nov, 15:10
• 'The View' co-host calls Democrats missing Hegseth impeachment vote a 'self-inflicted wound'"The View" co-hosts blasted Democrats who missed the Pete Hegseth impeachment vote, with Sara Haines calling it a "self-inflicted wound" for the party.Fox News · 12 Nov, 13:54
• Dem rep blames 'horrific' traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: 'I am so sorry'Rep. Melanie Stansbury apologized in a video for missing the Pete Hegseth impeachment vote, blaming rush-hour traffic and a police motorcade near the Capitol.Fox News · 12 Nov, 13:48
• LI voters fume after Rep. Laura Gillen blames traffic for missing Hegseth impeachment vote: ‘Bogus excuse’“What a bogus excuse,” one visibly upset Hofstra student, who only identified as Alex, told The Post.New York Post · 11 Nov, 22:52

In this story: Pete Hegseth · Laura Gillen · Melanie Stansbury · Lou Correa · Thomas Massie · House of Representatives · Capitol

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log