House Republicans took a significant stride in the early hours of Wednesday towards initiating impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The House Homeland Security Committee voted 18-15 to advance articles of impeachment, accusing Mayorkas of a “breach of trust” and a “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law.”
This vote sets the stage for the impeachment articles to move to the House floor, expected to take place next week, depending on attendance and the ability of Republicans to secure the support of undecided members.
Mayorkas (Credits: New York Post)
Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) has been cautious about confirming the success of the impeachment effort, but he was overheard stating that he has the necessary votes.
Despite united Democratic opposition, Republicans need near-unanimous support due to their slim majority, allowing them to lose only two votes at full attendance.
Green is expected to meet with undecided members, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) mentioned that leadership will also check in with members during the week, expressing confidence that they will ultimately secure the votes.
The move to impeach Mayorkas is a historic step, as a Cabinet official has been impeached only once before, in 1876. However, a conviction in the Democratic-controlled Senate appears unlikely.
Senate lawmakers are currently engaged in negotiations with the Biden administration, including Mayorkas, on a border security deal, a prospect that House Republicans have signaled their intent to obstruct.
Committee Chair Green highlighted during the meeting that the decision to pursue impeachment was due to exhausting all other options and emphasized that Mayorkas’ actions left them with no alternative.
The charges against Mayorkas include allegations of failing to uphold immigration laws, exceeding his authority, jeopardizing public safety, making false statements to Congress, and obstructing congressional oversight and the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Mayorkas responded to these allegations in a letter to Green, describing them as “baseless and inaccurate.” He defended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by stating that the DHS had provided extensive information, including testimony, documents, and briefings, demonstrating their commitment to enforcing the law.
Pressure from the right flank has been instrumental in urging House Republicans to pursue impeachment against President Joe Biden or a senior administration official.
While a previous attempt to impeach Mayorkas failed last year, recent developments suggest that the majority of those who previously voted to refer the matter to Green’s committee are now likely to support impeachment.
Notable holdouts in the Republican camp, such as Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), could play crucial roles in the final vote.
The success of the impeachment effort also hinges on undecided members like Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio). The impeachment proceedings add a layer of complexity to an already dynamic political landscape and will impact the broader narrative leading up to the parliamentary elections.
