Democrats Face Backlash For Missing Hegseth Impeachment Vote: ‘Do Your Job’

Democratic lawmakers who missed the House vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have faced criticism from within their own party following the resolution's defeat. The motion to refer Republican Representative Thomas Massie's eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth fell short by a vote of 211-204, preventing the attempt from advancing to the Senate.

Out of the 11 Democrats who abstained from voting, some were unable to do so due to personal reasons or logistical issues. Notable absentees included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had traveled to San Francisco for a prestigious award, and New Mexico Representative Melanie Stansbury, who cited a traffic incident and a police escort for a bus as barriers to attendance.

In response to the missed vote, Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed expressed disappointment, stating, "You should show up and do your job." Similarly, Representative-Elect Richard Ojeda of North Carolina chastised the Democrats who were absent, saying, "shame on them for not showing up." He emphasized the importance of the opportunity to remove what he perceives as "buffoonery" from the government, asserting that the Democrats failed to take advantage of it.