House Speaker Mike Johnson sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday requesting that the Senate hold an impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas next month. He said the plan to immediately drop the charges against Mayorkas “is a violation of constitutional order and an insult to the American people.”
Johnson plans to introduce the indictment on April 10, after the Senate returns from Easter recess, in a letter signed by 11 Republican senators who named Mayorkas as impeachment manager to try him. It was written. Senators from both parties who will serve as jurors in the impeachment trial have indicated they do not want to sit through such proceedings in Mr. Mayorkas' case, despite claims from House Republicans.
The letter reiterates the accusations against the Secretary of Homeland Security, and its signatories include Congressman Mark E. Greene (Tennessee), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia). and others signed articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas. Republicans condemned what they called a “deliberate and systematic refusal to comply with the law and violation of the public trust,” accused the secretary of lying to Congress, and denounced the situation at the southern border with Mexico.
There is little doubt that the Democratic-controlled Senate will side with Mr. Mayorkas. Leaders are expected to quickly avoid a trial by immediately dismissing the charges or moving to an immediate vote, with Republicans unlikely to secure the two-thirds majority needed to convict and remove Mr. Mayorkas from office. ing.
Schumer called the impeachment effort a “sham” and “another embarrassment for House Republicans.”
“House Republicans have failed to provide evidence that Secretary Mayorkas committed any crime,” he said in a statement Thursday. “House Republicans failed to show that he violated the Constitution. House Republicans failed to produce any evidence that would constitute an impeachable offense. This is a new low for House Republicans.”
House Republicans impeached Mayorkas by one vote in February, a lawsuit that constitutional scholars called baseless, before Democrats won a Long Island special election that wiped out majority support for authorizing the charges. hurriedly proceeded. But instead of immediately sending the article to the Senate seeking to force the removal of one of the officials responsible for the chaos at America's southern border, Republicans have ignored the article.
Republican lawmakers hope to increase public pressure for a full-scale trial, which would bring their accusations against President Biden's top immigration officials to the media. That could give them a high-profile platform in one of the election year's biggest attacks on the president and Democrats, a clear political boon even if Mr. Mayorkas is ultimately acquitted. Become.
“We ask that you fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” the letter said. “The American people want secure borders, an end to this crisis, and accountability for those responsible.” It would be an insult to the American people we all serve.”
Some Senate Republicans, such as Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have called for a trial, but others are less enthusiastic about impeachment efforts and say their time could be better spent on less partisan issues. claims.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg said the Republican impeachment effort “will be remembered in history as having trampled on the Constitution for political gain rather than addressing serious challenges at the border.” Deaf,” he said.
“Without a shred of evidence or any valid constitutional basis, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have unfairly slandered a dedicated public servant who has served our country enforcing our laws for more than 20 years.” said Ehrenberg.
