Republican efforts to impeach President Biden and his Cabinet have seemingly hit a roadblock after the Senate quickly dismissed articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Senators rejected two impeachment articles in a brief session on Wednesday, ending the House GOP’s yearlong campaign to remove Mayorkas with little fanfare.
Despite some Republican interest in continuing with a push to impeach Biden, the path forward appears increasingly closed off, and many congressional Republicans say they’re ready to move on from all things impeachment.
Alejandro Mayorkas (Credits: Axios)
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal supporter of the effort to impeach Mayorkas, admitted that there might not be much that House Republicans can do at this point.
House conservatives had entered the current Congress pledging to hold Biden administration officials, including the president himself, accountable.
While the Mayorkas impeachment attempt concluded, House conservatives have identified other Biden officials as potential targets, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Attorney General Merrick Garland.
At the forefront of their list is the president himself, with several House committees conducting investigations into Biden and his family.
Representative James Comer believes that criminal referrals to the Justice Department could be a more effective way to address concerns about the president’s conduct.
Despite the Senate’s dismissal of the Mayorkas impeachment articles, many House Republicans remain undeterred in their pursuit of accountability.
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (Credits: CNN)
Representative Chip Roy stressed the importance of doing what they believe is right, regardless of the Senate’s actions. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers criticized Republican efforts, labeling them as misguided and politically motivated. On the Senate side, lawmakers expect that discussions about impeachment have concluded for the year.
Senator Thom Tillis expressed hope that lessons would be learned from the Mayorkas impeachment trial, emphasizing the need to focus on legislative priorities.
However, some conservative senators believe that Schumer’s actions set a damaging precedent, potentially deterring future impeachment attempts. While the Mayorkas impeachment saga may have ended, its impact on future impeachment efforts and the political landscape remains uncertain.
