Anger erupted amongst Democrat supporters yesterday after Thomas Massie’s motion to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was voted down 211-204, meaning it failed by just seven votes. 11 Democrats missed the key vote, and they and Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the House Democratic Caucus and House minority leader, are under intense criticism.
The overall mood was summed up by Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, who appeared on CNN to deliver a blunt message to his tardy colleagues: “You should show up and do your job.” Many have since apologized and given their excuses, with Rep. Melanie Stansbury releasing an emotional video and saying, “There is no one who is more disappointed in myself than me.”
Many of those 11 Democrats have claimed that they were late to vote because there was a “traffic incident”. One of them, Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson, said on X, “While en route to the floor to oppose that motion, a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus caused a delay that resulted in the vote closing before I, along with other Members, could reach the chamber.”
“Not the truth or the whole truth”
That account has been called into question by TMZ’s Washington correspondent Charlie Cotton, who says he saw Rep. Jackson there “at the vote, with time to spare.” He clarified, “I saw Jonathan Jackson filming a social media video about the Hegseth impeachment, and that would have been at about 5:57, 5:58 pm. The Hegseth impeachment vote didn’t close until 6:05 pm. And he was on the steps, that’s where the vote is, just go inside the door, you’re right there.” He concluded, “this traffic jam thing… it’s not the truth or the whole truth.”
Cotton went on to directly ask Rep. Jackson about what he saw and tried to get clarification on what happened. He put his timeline to Rep. Jackson, said he couldn’t have been in a traffic jam, and asked him, “Why didn’t you vote? You were here”. Rep. Jackson replied, “I missed the vote. There was a traffic jam that was there. It’s inexcusable. Let’s not make any excuses for it. I should have been able to make the vote.”
Cotton pointed out, “But you kind of did make the vote.” Rep. Jackson: “I mean, the subsequent votes.. there were three votes in that series. Uh, it was a previous question… and so… the.. uh, but…” Jackson concluded, “I wish I could answer you in any more detail, but… I support the removal of Pete Hegseth.”
Published: Nov 12, 2026 12:30 pm