Eleven House Democrats missed a Tuesday vote that sidelined an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, drawing criticism from colleagues after Republicans prevailed by seven votes.

The House voted 211-204 to send the impeachment resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the immediate effort. All 203 Democrats who voted opposed referral, joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who introduced the resolution.

Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California joined 210 Republicans supporting the motion, according to the House clerk’s official record.

Could the Missing Votes Have Changed the Outcome?

The absent Democrats could have changed that result. With all other votes unchanged, seven additional votes against referral would have produced a 211-211 tie, defeating the motion.

If all 11 had voted against it, the motion would have failed 215-211.

Seven Republicans also missed the vote. If all absent lawmakers had participated, with Democrats opposing referral and Republicans supporting it, the motion would have passed 218-215.

Those scenarios reflect calculations based on the recorded totals, rather than confirmed voting intentions.

Defeating referral would have kept the impeachment effort alive, but would not itself have impeached or removed Hegseth.

The House must approve impeachment charges, and removal requires conviction by two-thirds of senators present at a Senate trial.

Democrats Cite Traffic, Medical Care, and Veterans Event

Several Democrats attributed their absences to traffic near the Capitol.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., said a traffic incident and a police-escorted bus prevented her from reaching the chamber before voting ended, The Hill reported. Her office said she arrived moments after the vote closed.

Reps. Laura Gillen of New York, Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, and Marilyn Strickland of Washington also blamed traffic, according to Reason. Some lawmakers were returning from an Elect Democratic Women reception near the Capitol.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in San Francisco for a veterans event, her spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle. Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., said he was undergoing a medical procedure and would remain in his district until medically cleared, The Guardian reported.

The absences frustrated some Democratic colleagues.

“People should have gotten their raggedy selves up these steps to vote,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., according to The Independent.

What the Impeachment Resolution Alleges

Massie’s eight impeachment articles accuse Hegseth of conducting unauthorized military operations against Iran, disregarding congressional war powers, failing to protect civilians, directing unlawful lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly over protected speech.

The resolution also challenges the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and military operations in Yemen. Those accusations are allegations in the impeachment resolution, rather than findings of wrongdoing.

The White House opposed the resolution, describing it as politically motivated and defending the administration’s military operations as necessary to protect national security.