TMZ obtained footage showing Representative Jonathan Jackson of Illinois right outside the Capitol building with time to spare during the November 11 vote to impeach Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth. Jackson had told reporters that "a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus caused a delay that resulted in the vote closing before he arrived."
He was filming a social media video. Outside the building where the vote was happening.
The impeachment vote failed 211 to 204, with 11 Democrats absent — a margin so thin that the missing members became the story overnight. Jackson's excuse was the most creative of the bunch, right up until TMZ published video proving it was fiction. He later conceded to TMZ: "It's not making an excuse for it, I should've been able to make the vote, it was procedural." Then added: "It was a mistake and I wish I could answer you in any more detail but I support the removal of Pete Hegseth."
Supporting the removal and showing up to vote for it are, apparently, two different commitments.
As reported by LifeZette, Jackson wasn't the only no-show. Eleven Democrats in total failed to appear, and only one Republican — Representative Thomas Massie — voted in favor of impeachment. Massie had filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth covering accusations ranging from an unauthorized Iran war to disregarding civilian casualty laws to illegal Venezuelan asset seizure. The case needed every Democratic vote it could get. It didn't get eleven of them.
The absences cut across the caucus. Nancy Pelosi was in San Francisco attending the Swords to Plowshares 30th Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Representative Lou Correa of California said he missed votes "on my doctor's advice." Representative Steven Horsford of Nevada offered the cleanest version: "I missed an important vote. I take full responsibility."
The Democrats who actually showed up were not gentle about it. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California said her colleagues should have gotten "their raggied selves up these steps to vote." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that "having a vote like that on attendance is hard. That hurts." Incoming Michigan senator Abdul El-Sayed went on CNN and put it plainly: "You should show up and do your job."
Representative Brittany Pettersen of Colorado and Representative Laura Gillen of New York were among the absent. Representative Julia Brownley of California claimed Speaker Mike Johnson closed the vote prematurely — a procedural complaint that's harder to sell when your colleague was literally standing outside making content instead of walking through the door.
President Trump responded on Truth Social: "The Democrats' attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!" The resolution now moves to the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee. Democrats regain Congressional control on January 3, 2027.
Jackson said he supports removing Pete Hegseth. He was outside the building where that vote was happening. He chose the social media video.