Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized House Republicans on Tuesday for impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over what he characterized as “policy disagreements.” He warned that such actions set a concerning precedent for Congress and suggested that impeachment should not be used to settle policy disputes.
Schumer announced that the House impeachment managers would deliver the two charges against Mayorkas to the Senate later in the day and asked senators to be seated at their desks to accept the articles formally.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Credits: The Hill)
He indicated that senators would be sworn in as jurors on Wednesday, with Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray presiding over the chamber during the process. However, Schumer did not provide detailed plans for how the Senate would proceed with the impeachment trial.
Republicans anticipated Schumer would hold a vote to dismiss the impeachment charges immediately or refer the matter to a special committee.
A motion to dismiss would require a simple majority to pass. Some Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester, Tammy Baldwin, and Catherine Cortez Masto, have not indicated how they would vote on such a motion.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Credits: The Hill)
Meanwhile, moderate Republicans like Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney have questioned whether compelling evidence has been presented to demonstrate that Mayorkas committed a crime.
The articles of impeachment against Mayorkas accuse him of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust.” These charges have been pending since the House approved them in a narrow vote in February.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized the seriousness of the impeachment charges and noted that the Senate would only be considering the impeachment of a senior government official for the 19th time in history.
He highlighted the important number of illegal border crossings since President Biden took office and stated his intention to give the charges his full attention.
