Traffic Jam Saves Hegseth as Impeachment Effort Fails

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to table articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, effectively ending the effort to remove him from office. The vote was 211 to 204, with Republicans sending the articles to the Judiciary Committee. Eleven Democrats were absent from the vote, and their absence proved decisive, as their presence could have forced a full debate and vote on the impeachment resolution. Several of the absent lawmakers blamed a traffic jam in Washington D.C., citing a police escort and road incident that blocked their access to the Capitol. The missing Democrats were reportedly returning from a political action committee event focused on electing pro-abortion-rights women. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faces criticism for failing to ensure party members were present, though he stated the effort is not over, calling it "just the beginning."