House Republicans voted to advance impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, marking a rare step towards impeaching a Cabinet official. The full House of Representatives will vote on the articles, although the date for the vote has not been set yet.
The impeachment effort is centered around Mayorkas’ handling of the southern border, with Republicans claiming that he has committed high crimes and misdemeanors. However, constitutional experts have argued that the evidence does not meet the required standard for impeachment.
If the impeachment articles pass, Mayorkas would become the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years. House Republicans have faced pressure from their base to hold the Biden administration accountable on the border issue, which has fueled the impeachment push.
The impeachment articles were passed along party lines in the House Homeland Security Committee after a 15-hour debate. Republicans blocked Democrats from introducing further amendments, signaling their determination to move forward quickly. House Speaker Mike Johnson has promised to bring the articles of impeachment to the floor promptly and has indicated opposition to a bipartisan deal being negotiated in the Senate regarding border policies.
While senior House Republicans are confident they have enough support to impeach Mayorkas, they can only afford to lose two votes due to their narrow majority. A whip check is planned to gauge the conference’s temperature on the issue.
Legal scholars have cast doubt on the impeachment effort, stating that the charges against Mayorkas do not rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley have both argued that there is no evidence of corruption or impeachable offenses.
Despite the skepticism from legal experts, a growing number of House Republicans, including GOP leadership, support impeaching Mayorkas. However, even if he is impeached, it is unlikely that he will be charged in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Mayorkas defended his record in a letter to the House Homeland Security Committee, emphasizing his commitment to public service and his efforts to address the challenges of the immigration system. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the impeachment inquiry, calling it a “farce” and a distraction from other national security priorities.
The focus on Mayorkas represents a shift for House Republicans, who had previously considered impeaching President Joe Biden. However, with the Biden probe progressing slowly and some Republicans hesitant about impeaching the president, targeting Mayorkas has become a more feasible option as the border crisis becomes a prominent campaign issue.
The impeachment process for Mayorkas has deviated from the usual procedure, as it has been conducted solely through the Homeland Security Committee instead of the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans have held hearings and conducted interviews during the investigative phase but have moved forward with impeachment articles without allowing Mayorkas to testify.
In conclusion, House Republicans have taken a significant step towards impeaching DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border. While legal experts have questioned the evidence supporting the impeachment effort, a growing number of House Republicans support the move. The outcome of the impeachment vote in the full House of Representatives remains uncertain, and even if Mayorkas is impeached, it is unlikely that he will be charged in the Senate.