From The Hill:
House Democrat says traffic incident prevented her and others from voting on Hegseth impeachment
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said Tuesday that she and other lawmakers were unable to reach the Capitol in time to vote against a Republican effort to block the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth because of a traffic incident and a police escort.
“Like other Members of Congress, Rep. Stansbury was blocked from entering the Capitol to vote due a traffic incident and a police escort of a bus during the vote,” her office said in a statement on the social platform X. “When she reached the chamber the vote had just gaveled out.”
Stansbury said she arrived in the House chamber moments after lawmakers voted 211-204 to refer the measure against Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the effort for the remainder of the current Congress.
“She immediately filed a report of her vote of “NO” to the motion meant to kill the impeachment articles and refer them to the Judiciary Committee, as documented in the Congressional Record,” her statement continued. “Pete Hegseth must be impeached now.”
The narrow vote followed an effort led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who reintroduced eight articles of impeachment Monday accusing Hegseth of violating the Constitution and federal law through military operations in Iran, Yemen, the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Hegseth has rejected the allegations, describing Massie as “one disgruntled and defeated congressman” motivated by personal resentment.
Massie was the only republican to vote with Democrats against sending the resolution to committee. No Democrats supported the motion, while Rep. Kevil Kiley (I-Calif.) joined Republicans in voting to refer it.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) predicted Monday that Hegseth would likely face impeachment once Democrats take control of the House unless he resigns or President Trump fires him.
I think it’s extremely likely, if not certain, that the House will impeach him,” Cruz said on his podcast, “The Verdict,” arguing that Democrats would have the votes needed to do so.
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