Eleven Democratic absences sink Hegseth impeachment vote, sparking party anger

Eleven Democratic lawmakers missed a crucial House vote on Tuesday, November 10, allowing Republicans to block an impeachment procedure against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sparking anger within the party. The motion to send eight articles of impeachment back to committee passed 211-204. The absent Democrats, who reportedly supported impeachment, cited heavy traffic in Washington, D.C., as the reason for missing the vote. Some were returning from an event 2.4 kilometers from the Capitol, while others blamed an early vote closure by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson. Nancy Pelosi was in San Francisco, and Lou Correa cited medical reasons. The missed vote drew sharp criticism from colleagues, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said lawmakers must "clock in and do our work." One New York lawmaker, Pat Ryan, left a hospital early after back surgery to vote, highlighting the frustration over the absences.