GOP House leadership officially delivered the articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday afternoon.
The action underscores mounting frustration over Mayorkas’ handling of the ongoing border crisis during his tenure overseeing border security.
The impeachment articles, initiated by House Republicans in February, have encountered numerous obstacles since their inception.
The documents allege that Mayorkas “repeatedly violated laws enacted by Congress regarding immigration and border security” and “made false statements to Congress” regarding the safety and security of the border.
In response to the impeachment proceedings, Mayorkas maintained his resolve, asserting, “I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted.”
The Senate doesn’t get to ignore its duty and give Secretary Mayorkas a pass for his border disaster.
I’m bringing business to a halt until we give the American people the trial promised by their Constitution. pic.twitter.com/2yjeUBagW5
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) April 15, 2024
However, the Democrat-controlled Senate appears poised to dismiss the impeachment articles, with some advocating against holding a trial altogether, a departure from longstanding precedent. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) cautioned against this move, highlighting the potential silencing of American voices if a trial is avoided.
“If Democrats set a new precedent by making an impeachment trial impossible … they will be silencing the voices of Americans.”@SenJohnKennedy on Senate Democrats pushing to stop articles of impeachment of DHS Sec Mayorkas.pic.twitter.com/O2dMtTCu0s
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 15, 2024
Echoing Kennedy’s concerns, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) emphasized the significance of upholding decades of precedent and raised constitutional questions regarding the dismissal of a trial.
The push to forego impeachment proceedings in the Senate sets the stage for a contentious debate over Mayorkas’ actions and accountability amidst the ongoing border challenges.
