Senator Mitt Romney of Utah has indicated a nuanced stance on the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, suggesting he is open to dismissing the charges if there is an opportunity for debate in the Senate.
According to Axios, Romney does not believe the charges meet the constitutional standard for impeachment. However, he also believes that the Senate should allow for a debate on the matter.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (Credits: ABC News)
Romney expressed that he would oppose a motion to table the impeachment articles without any discussion, emphasizing the importance of giving the charges a fair hearing, even if briefly. He suggested that he could support a motion to dismiss if it includes provisions for a debate, possibly limited to a couple of hours.
The House recently transmitted two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the Senate, accusing him of “willfully and systematically” refusing to enforce U.S. immigration laws.
This move by the House reflects broader criticisms from some Republicans who argue that Mayorkas has failed to secure the southern border effectively.
Alejandro Mayorkas (Credits: Vox)
The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to quickly dismiss these charges. A conviction and removal from office would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a threshold that is unlikely to be met given the current political alignments.
If the Senate were to hold an impeachment trial for Mayorkas, it would be the third such trial in the past five years, following two impeachment trials of former President Donald Trump, who was acquitted both times.
Romney’s approach suggests a desire for procedural fairness and a thorough consideration of the issues at hand, even as the outcome may likely favor dismissal of the charges against Mayorkas.
