Long Island Republican Congressman Andrew Garbarino is facing heavy criticism after missing the final vote on US President Trump’s major tax legislation, all because he fell asleep during an all-night session in the House.Speaker Mike Johnson revealed on Thursday that Garbarino missed the vote, which passed 215-214, after nodding off at the back of the chamber. “Andrew Garbarino did not make it in time. He fell asleep in the back, no kidding,” Johnson said, jokingly adding, “I’m going to just strangle him, but he’s my dear friend.”The House had reconvened late Wednesday evening and only wrapped up voting early Thursday morning. But Garbarino’s absence, even by accident, has not gone down well with fellow Republicans.A local Republican source from Long Island said party leaders were furious that Garbarino looked “like a buffoon” for dozing off with Trump’s top legislative priority on the line, reports the New York Post. The insider added, “He’s losing his juice as the most senior congressman,” and hinted that some see him as “disloyal to Trump” and no longer a reliable party man.Veteran Trump adviser Roger Stone didn’t hold back either: “It sounds like a Republican primary challenge is in order. If Garbarino can’t be bothered to support the president… then the President’s supporters can’t be bothered to support Garbarino.”State Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar called the missed vote “a great disappointment.” He noted that while Garbarino had tried to reach out to him, the misstep was still serious, especially since the Conservative Party’s backing can decide tight suburban races.To make matters worse, political memes circulated online mocking Garbarino as “Sleepy,” complete with nightcap and steaming coffee cup. Democrats were quick to pile on, too, with New York State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs saying, “We have 7 Republican Members of Congress. Just like the Seven Dwarfs… now Garbarino’s ‘Sleepy.’ Quite the cast of characters.”Garbarino’s office responded with a statement saying the congressman “stepped out and inadvertently missed the vote,” but had been present for the discussions and fully intended to support the bill.“I was moments away from the House floor, to vote ‘yes,’ when the vote was closed,” Garbarino said. “While I am frustrated… I am proud of the work we accomplished to deliver huge results for Long Island.”The bill in question lifts the SALT cap, a major issue for many New York residents, and scraps billions in green energy tax credits from Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.Despite missing the vote, Garbarino stressed he was a “leading voice” in securing the changes, adding, “I congratulate President Trump on getting this bill passed and look forward to voting ‘yes’ when it comes back to the House floor from the Senate.”Garbarino’s office concluded, “This is one of many reasons why governing should happen in the light of day, not in the dead of night.”Social media was flooded with memes following Garbarino’s sleep fest, as users took to their platforms to mock the congressman.
