Rep. Jonathan Jackson’s explanation for missing a procedural vote on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s impeachment ran into a reporter who said he had seen the Democrat outside the Capitol with time to spare. Jackson blamed traffic for his absence. But when confronted, the Illinois congressman acknowledged making a mistake while continuing to demand Hegseth’s removal.
The exchange happened outside the Capitol on Wednesday, November 11th, after the House voted the previous evening to refer an impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee. The motion passed 211–204. Eleven Democrats missed the vote, including Jackson, who had publicly supported moving against the defense secretary.
TMZ reporter Charlie Cotton said he spotted Jackson on the Capitol steps around 5:57 or 5:58 p.m., apparently recording a social media video. Cotton approached him the following day about why he had failed to reach the chamber. Jackson had also spoken with the outlet before the vote, arguing that impeachment shouldn’t wait until the next Congress.
As Trending Politics reported, Cotton challenged Jackson directly: “I saw you on the steps… You were here!” Jackson answered, “There was a traffic jam.” Cotton pushed back: “You kind of did make the vote!” Jackson described missing the vote as inexcusable and said lawmakers should have reached the chamber in time.
The House clerk’s official roll call records the vote as a motion to refer H. Res. 1655, the resolution seeking Hegseth’s impeachment for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors. Among Republicans, 210 supported referral and one opposed it; seven didn’t vote. All 203 Democrats who cast ballots opposed referral, while one independent voted in favor. The record lists 18 members as not voting. The clerk dates the roll call November 10th, 2026, at 6:02 p.m., several minutes after Cotton’s reported sighting of Jackson.
According to ABC News, which reported on the absences, the vote remained open for 29 minutes despite being scheduled for 15. Members had known for at least 18 hours that Tuesday’s voting series would begin at 5:30 p.m. If all 11 missing Democrats had joined their colleagues in opposing referral, the motion would have failed 215–211, allowing the impeachment resolution to advance.
Watch TMZ’s confront Jackson on his missed vote here:
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Jackson’s written explanation said the traffic incident “caused a delay that resulted in the vote closing before I, along with other Members, could reach the chamber.” He subsequently recorded his opposition to the motion in the Congressional Record. Such statements don’t change a completed vote’s tally or result.
Jackson was among six Democrats who reached the chamber for the next vote, alongside Julia Brownley, Laura Gillen, Brittany Pettersen, Melanie Stansbury and Marilyn Strickland. Those six additional votes alone would still have left opponents of referral one vote short, at 211–210. Other absences had separate explanations: Lou Correa cited a medical procedure, while Nancy Pelosi attended a veterans event in San Francisco.
During the confrontation, Jackson also pointed to traffic and security arrangements around Capitol Hill. Cotton continued pressing him about having reached the building before voting ended. Jackson ultimately acknowledged a mistake without providing a more detailed explanation for failing to cast his ballot.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.