The House Homeland Security Committee has voted to push forward with impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
First Impeachment in 150 Years
The impeachment sets the stage for a House floor vote that could mark Mayorkas as the first Cabinet secretary to face impeachment in nearly 150 years.
Past Impeachment Instance
The only Cabinet member impeached by the House was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 under President Grant, who was later acquitted in the Senate.
Partisan Lines Drawn
Following a marathon session that extended over 15 hours and saw heated exchanges, the committee, led by Republicans, cast an 18-15 vote strictly along party lines.
Impeachment Advances to House
This vote propels the two impeachment articles against the key immigration official of President Biden’s administration to the House floor, where a majority is slightly in favor of the Republicans. The anticipated discussion and voting on these articles are slated for next week.
Charges Levied
House Republicans have accused Mayorkas of a deliberate and systemic refusal to adhere to the law, alongside breaching public trust, particularly in managing the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. These allegations were unveiled on Sunday, ahead of the committee’s vote.
Accountability Sought
The panel had “exhausted all other options” to hold Mayorkas accountable for defying laws passed by Congress, stated GOP Representative Mark Green of Tennessee, the committee’s chairman.
“Time for Accountability”
Green said, “We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer. The time for accountability is now.”
Baseless Charges
Democrats have criticized the impeachment efforts as baseless, arguing that the charges do not meet the constitutionally required standards of high crimes or misdemeanors necessary for impeachment.
Procedural Delays
Efforts by Democrats to postpone the committee’s decision included repeated calls for recorded votes and procedural objections, extending the meeting into the wee hours of Wednesday.
First Charge
The first impeachment article charges Mayorkas with recurrently breaching the law by permitting the release of migrants awaiting court proceedings.
Second Charge
The second article asserts that Mayorkas provided false information to lawmakers regarding the security of the southern border and hindered congressional supervision of the department.
Likely Acquittal
Despite the looming impeachment, Mayorkas is highly likely to be acquitted of the charges in a trial within the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Border Security Focus
The impeachment initiative coincides with the GOP’s emphasis on border security for the 2024 campaign, contrasting with their resistance to an immigration deal that Mayorkas had a hand in crafting.
“Dead on Arrival”
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted last week that the border deal being negotiated in the Senate is “dead on arrival” in its current form.
Leaked Border Proposals
Although no draft has been released, Johnson is alluding to leaked information regarding the border proposals under consideration as part of a supplemental funding measure that combines border security with aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Constitutional Interpretations
Republican committee members argue that the Constitution’s original language supports their charges against Mayorkas, while Democrats warn that such a precedent could lead to endless baseless impeachments.
“End of Time”
Rep. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island said, “If that becomes the new precedent, then the floodgates will open, and you will have frivolous impeachments from here until the end of time.”
Legislative Solutions Ignored
Democrats have criticized the focus on impeachment rather than legislative initiatives, contending that the GOP’s opposition to bipartisan border security is because of their belief that former President Donald Trump could exploit this issue during the 2024 campaign.
Misuse of Power
On the eve of the vote, Democrats released a report defending Mayorkas and accusing Republicans of misusing their impeachment powers for political gains.
Politically Motivated
Despite the controversy, Mayorkas remains committed to his role, dismissing the accusations as “politically motivated.”
False Accusations
He said, “I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission.”
Departmental Response
The Homeland Security Department has labeled the impeachment effort as a distraction from more pressing national security tasks and a failure to address the underlying issues in immigration laws.
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