The House plans to send impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10, according to a letter obtained by CNN. Mayorkas was impeached by the House on February 13, becoming the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years. Republicans have focused on the impeachment as a way to criticize the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border, highlighting the administration’s immigration and border security policies.
While the Democratic-controlled Senate is not expected to convict Mayorkas, there is uncertainty about how the trial will be handled. The Senate could move to quickly dismiss the impeachment, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not outlined specific plans for the trial. Despite claims from House Republicans that Mayorkas committed high crimes and misdemeanors, constitutional experts have stated that the evidence does not reach the necessary threshold. The delay in sending the articles to the Senate was intentional, waiting until Congress had addressed government funding for the fiscal year.
The impeachment of Mayorkas has led to concerns among Republicans about their ability to impeach President Joe Biden. With a narrow majority and lack of concrete evidence, the impeachment of Biden appears to be stalled. Additionally, the likelihood of the Mayorkas impeachment going nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate has further frustrated Republicans. This sentiment has been echoed by House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who is involved in the investigation into Biden and suggested that the Senate would quickly dismiss impeachment articles against the president.
In his letter to Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged the Senate to hold a trial on the matter expeditiously, stressing that Schumer has a constitutional obligation to do so. The impeachment of Mayorkas sets up a confrontation between Senate Democrats and Republicans over the border, a highly charged issue as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Johnson and the House Republicans appointed as impeachment managers are pushing for a swift trial, highlighting the importance of holding Mayorkas accountable for his actions at the southern border.
Overall, the impeachment process against Mayorkas has become a point of contention between Democrats and Republicans, with implications for potential future impeachment proceedings. While the impeachment of Mayorkas has garnered attention and criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies, the likelihood of success in impeaching the president remains uncertain. The ongoing debate over the handling of the Mayorkas impeachment reflects broader tensions within Congress over accountability and oversight of the executive branch.
