A Democratic representative is under scrutiny after citing traffic as the reason for missing an important vote on impeachment. However, a TMZ reporter has cast doubt on this excuse by reporting that he saw the congressman nearby just before the vote.
Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois was among 11 Democrats who did not vote in a procedural motion regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s impeachment, enabling Republicans to effectively halt the initiative.
The House voted 211-204 to send eight impeachment articles to the Judiciary Committee, sidelining the matter for the rest of the congressional session.
Jackson had publicly advocated for Hegseth’s removal, yet when it came time to vote, he was absent from the House chamber.
While Jackson cited a traffic jam as the reason for his absence, TMZ DC reporter Charlie Cotton reported seeing him just before the vote on the Capitol steps.
LMFAO! Democrats SKIPPED the Pete Hegseth impeachment vote — and Rep. Jackson (D) just got CONFRONTED over it
“I saw you on the steps…You were here!”
JACKSON: “There was a traffic jam.”
TMZ: “You kind of did make the vote!”
Democrats spent months screaming that SecWar Hegseth had to go. When it was time to actually put their names on the record, they couldn’t make it to the floor
Failure! https://t.co/eRbwRJTYLt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 11, 2026
Cotton stated that Jackson appeared to be filming a social media clip around 5:57 or 5:58 p.m., just moments before voting concluded.
When confronted the next day, Jackson remained adamant about his traffic excuse. Cotton pressed him, saying, “I saw you on the steps… You were here!”
Jackson insisted there was a traffic problem, but Cotton wasn’t convinced, pointing out the apparent contradiction.
The exchange became increasingly uncomfortable as Jackson acknowledged the severity of missing the vote but argued about traffic and navigation challenges around the Capitol.
Eventually, he conceded to making an error but did not elaborate on why he failed to vote.
This incident occurred shortly after Jackson claimed that Democrats should not postpone impeachment actions against Hegseth until the next Congress.
Despite the urgency he expressed, Jackson’s absence during a critical vote raised eyebrows.
The motion was put forward by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who cited Hegseth’s alleged misconduct concerning military actions. Hegseth, however, has rejected the impeachment claims.
This procedural victory for Republicans came on the heels of Democratic successes in recent elections.
Democratic members who were absent attributed their missed votes to traffic delays caused by a police-escorted bus, while others, such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had other commitments.
Criticism erupted from within the party over the apparent lack of attendance, especially given the urgency surrounding the vote.
Jackson’s situation has attracted attention because his timeline was reportedly inconsistent with his claim, raising questions about his accountability.
While the report does not definitively suggest malintent, it does highlight the contradictions in his explanation, creating a notable controversy within a party that has been vocal about requiring accountability from Hegseth.
