Traffic jam helps Hegseth dodge impeachment push as 11 Democrats miss vote

A traffic jam in Washington, DC, helped US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth avoid an immediate impeachment push after 11 Democratic lawmakers failed to reach the House chamber in time for a crucial vote, reported UK newspaper The Independent. 

The vote on Tuesday night concerned articles of impeachment against Hegseth over his handling of the war in Iran and the bombing of alleged drug boats in the Caribbean without congressional approval.

The Republican-controlled House voted to refer the impeachment measure to the GOP-led Judiciary Committee, where it is unlikely to make progress before Democrats take control of Congress in January 2027.

The outcome triggered criticism from Democratic lawmakers and progressive commentators, who blamed the absent members and questioned the leadership of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Some of the absent Democrats were returning from an Elect Democratic Women event about 1.5 miles from the Capitol when they became caught in heavy traffic, Axios reporter Andrew Solender reported.

Had the 11 Democrats joined the vote against referring the articles to the committee, they would have had enough votes to prevent the referral, according to reports.

Jeffries, who had earlier described himself as a firm supporter of impeaching Hegseth, faced questions over the failure to secure the attendance of his colleagues.

Asked about the absences, he told reporters that he had not discussed the matter with members of the floor team.

'This is not the end of it. It's just the beginning,' he said, according to Politico.

The missed vote prompted sharp reactions from Democratic supporters and political commentators, with some accusing Jeffries of failing to organise his party.

'This is a major Hakeem Jeffries fail,' political commentator Krystal Ball wrote, arguing that Democrats had missed an opportunity to impeach Hegseth.

Progressive journalist Mehdi Hasan called on Democrats to choose a different House speaker, while political adviser Saikat Chakrabarti accused Jeffries of blaming the floor team for the failure.

Several absent lawmakers later offered explanations for missing the vote.

Representative Marilyn Strickland of Washington, who had previously said an impeachment vote could not come soon enough, was reportedly delayed by a motorcade. Her chief of staff, Andrew Noh, told Politico that she missed the vote by one minute and would have opposed the motion to refer the articles to the committee.

Representative Jonathan L Jackson of Illinois said a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus had delayed him and other lawmakers on their way to the chamber.

'The vote closed before I, along with other Members, could reach the chamber,' he wrote on X, adding that he had subsequently entered his 'NO' vote in the Congressional Record.

A spokesperson for Representative Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico also said she had been blocked from reaching the Capitol by the traffic incident and police escort. She filed her vote against the referral after reaching the chamber, according to a statement posted on her X account.

The explanations did little to prevent criticism from voters and social media users. Some questioned why elected representatives should be excused for arriving late when ordinary workers were expected to report to work on time.

The other Democrats who missed the vote included California representatives Julia Brownley, Lou Correa and Nancy Pelosi; Brittany Pettersen of Colorado; Frederica Wilson of Florida; Laura Gillen of New York; Steven Horsford of Nevada; and Haley Stevens of Michigan.

New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also criticised the absentees, saying lawmakers had a responsibility to show up and do their jobs.

'The people send us here to do a job,' she told CNN, adding that, barring serious health or other significant reasons, members should be present for important votes.

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New Age | Traffic jam helps Hegseth dodge impeachment push as 11 Democrats miss vote