Progressive Critics Turn on Jeffries as Hegseth Impeachment Fallout Spreads

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said from the start that he would not bend to the impeachment push against him, calling it a sham in a video message released last week, Reuters reported ^[1]. "We will not back down," he said ^[1]. On Tuesday the House sided with him, at least for now, voting 211-204 to send Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment articles to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, a step that effectively halts the effort ^[2][3].

Now the fallout has moved from the House floor into the Democratic Party itself, and its target is the man who expects to be the next speaker, Hakeem Jeffries.

The Left Turns on Its Leader

Newsweek reported that progressive voices are questioning Jeffries' future after the failed vote ^[2]. Democratic adviser Saikat Chakrabarti called the outcome "a failure of Democratic leadership" in a post on X, and strategist Justin Snyder asked how a leader in line for the speakership could not whip his own caucus, according to Newsweek ^[2]. Commentators Krystal Ball and Cenk Uygur also laid the blame on Jeffries ^[2].

Al Jazeera reported that 18 members missed the vote, 11 Democrats and seven Republicans, and that the motion would have failed had the absent Democrats voted with their party ^[3]. Jeffries himself was not among the absent ^[3]. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California scolded her missing colleagues, and Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed told them to show up and do their jobs, Al Jazeera reported ^[3]. MS NOW called the failed vote a Democratic debacle ^[5].

The Explanations

The absent members offered a range of reasons. Four, including Reps. Marilyn Strickland and Jonathan Jackson, blamed Washington traffic; former Speaker Nancy Pelosi was at a veterans event in California; Rep. Lou Correa cited a health procedure; Rep. Steven Horsford's office cited a personal emergency; and Rep. Brittany Pettersen said she was denied the chance to vote, according to Al Jazeera ^[3]. Three others did not comment ^[3].

Jeffries had told ABC News he was a firm yes on impeachment, and he told reporters the vote was not the end of the matter, Newsweek reported ^[2]. He plans to consult members about another attempt next year, Al Jazeera reported, saying, "We'll have that conversation at the appropriate time" ^[3]. Newsweek said it contacted Jeffries about the criticism and did not report a reply ^[2].

The Context Left Out

This was never a Democratic project to begin with. The articles came from Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and accused Hegseth of, among other things, continuing the Iran conflict without authorization from Congress, WJLA reported ^[4]. Massie was the only Republican to oppose shelving them ^[3]. Hegseth dismissed the articles as a sham, described Massie as a defeated congressman, and defended the Iran war as an effort to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, according to WJLA ^[4]. President Trump celebrated the result on social media, Al Jazeera reported ^[3].

Even if Democrats revive the effort after they take control on January 3, removal would take a two-thirds vote of the Senate, which Al Jazeera noted would likely require about a dozen Republicans ^[3].

Related White House Counsel Warns House Democrats Their Coming Probes Could Cross Into Criminality

What Comes Next

The current Congress ends in about eight weeks ^[3]. Jeffries is the only declared candidate for speaker, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has publicly backed him, Newsweek reported ^[2]. Whether the anger on the left fades or hardens into a challenge will shape how the new majority treats Hegseth and the Pentagon in 2027. We will keep tracking this story.