The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass an impeachment resolution against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, November 10, following a 211-204 vote. Eleven Democrats were among the 18 lawmakers who were recorded as not voting, including Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM). The resolution sought to impeach the Secretary for "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to military actions in Iran and the bombing of alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.
Representative Stansbury issued an apology on Wednesday, November 11, after missing the vote. In a four-minute video, she stated that she was blocked from entering the Capitol due to a traffic incident and a police escort for a bus. Stansbury noted that she was an original co-sponsor of an earlier impeachment resolution against Hegseth and expressed disappointment in her absence, stating she had asked staff to notify the House floor of the traffic delays.
Reports indicated that some members who missed the vote were returning from an Elect Democratic Women event located approximately 1.5 miles from the Capitol. While some lawmakers reportedly navigated the traffic by walking or getting dropped off on the Senate side of the building, Stansbury stated she was stuck in the right-hand lane of the road. Other Democrats recorded as not voting included Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and Haley Stevens (D-MI).
The outcome was determined by a seven-vote margin, a figure smaller than the number of lawmakers—18 in total—who did not participate in the vote. Had the 11 missing Democrats been present and voted in favor, the tally would have shifted to 215-211 in support of the resolution, though the specific voting intentions of all absent members were not confirmed.
For the constituents of the 18 districts whose representatives did not vote, the immediate impact was a lack of representation on a constitutional matter involving the leadership of the Department of Defense. Voters in these districts, including Stansbury’s in New Mexico, saw their representatives absent from a roll call concerning allegations of "high crimes and misdemeanors" regarding international military engagements. Social media users questioned the accountability of elected officials, with some suggesting legislative penalties for missed votes.
The incident highlights the logistical challenges of coordination between political events and legislative sessions in Washington, D.C. While Representative Stansbury characterized the failed vote as "just the beginning" of efforts regarding Hegseth, no further dates for impeachment proceedings have been scheduled. The Secretary remains in his post, and the House has not yet announced a timeline for any subsequent resolutions related to the underlying allegations.