An attempt to impeach US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth collapsed in the Senate on Thursday after 11 Democratic senators were unable to cast their votes due to heavy traffic congestion in Washington DC. The procedural setback has sparked frustration among Democrats and relief among Republicans, while raising questions about the future of the impeachment effort.

The Incident

According to sources, the 11 Democratic senators were stuck in gridlocked traffic and failed to arrive at the Senate chamber before the scheduled vote. Their absence proved decisive, as the impeachment resolution fell short of the majority needed to advance. The unexpected turn of events effectively derailed the push against Hegseth, at least for now.

Political Reactions

Democratic leaders expressed outrage over the incident, calling it an unfortunate disruption of a critical constitutional process. "This is a deeply regrettable situation," one Democratic senator was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Republicans welcomed the outcome, arguing that it demonstrated a lack of sufficient support for the impeachment motion.

What's Next

The failed vote is likely to complicate Democratic efforts to hold Hegseth accountable. Party leaders may attempt to reschedule the vote, but Thursday's debacle has dealt a significant blow to their momentum. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has issued an official response so far.