11 Democrats Miss Hegseth Impeachment Vote as Republicans Block Effort
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 11
11 Democrats Miss Hegseth Impeachment Vote as Republicans Block Effort
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 11
Summary
Eleven Democrats missed Tuesday’s impeachment vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, helping Republicans defeat the effort and triggering a backlash inside the party.
Wednesday’s closed-door Democratic meeting opened with Rep. Katherine Clark, the party’s No. 2 House leader, scolding absent lawmakers over the missed vote.
Public criticism spread quickly, with Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed saying Democrats should “show up and do your job,” and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove accusing colleagues of squandering a chance to advance the charges.
The episode overshadowed Democrats’ postelection victory lap after last week’s sweeping wins and complicated plans to focus on their incoming control of both chambers of Congress.
Some senior Democrats argued the sharper blame still belonged on Hegseth and on Republicans who united to protect him from impeachment.