In a notable exchange during a House Homeland Security Committee meeting, Democrat Rep. Seth Magaziner criticized Marjorie Taylor Greene as Republicans moved closer to impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Clash Over Terrorism Concerns
Magaziner remarked, “I have to say it is pretty rich hearing the gentlewoman from Georgia express her concern about terrorism when she literally was selling ‘defund the FBI’ t-shirts and hats,” in response to Greene’s query about border-related terrorism threats.
Impeachment Moves Forward
This meeting was convened to deliberate on the impeachment articles against Mayorkas, with the Republican-majority committee deciding to push these articles to a House vote.
It’s worth noting that Greene has been an advocate for defunding the FBI, a stance evident from the related items still for sale on her website.
Defund the FBI
Navy-colored t-shirts and hats, each priced at $30, feature the bold statement ‘Defund the FBI’ in yellow letters on the front. On the back of these items, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s initials, MTG, are prominently displayed.
Greene Responds
Later, Greene made a statement on X, countering Democrat Rep. Magaziner’s claim during the Homeland Security meeting. “Democrat Rep. Magaziner on Homeland just claimed that if we impeach Mayorkas ‘we will open the floodgates for baseless political impeachments,’ she wrote. “Obviously he was not on planet Earth for the TWO baseless political impeachments.”
She was drawing a parallel to the two impeachment trials faced by former President Donald Trump.
Committee Votes
The move to impeach Mayorkas, led by a Republican-majority committee, progressed with an 18-15 vote. The committee accuses him of a “violation of his oath to well and faithfully discharge the duties of his office,” particularly concerning his management of the southern border, as stated by committee chair Rep. Mark Green at the meeting’s outset.
Defining Impeachment
Democrats have united in support of Mayorkas, casting doubt on whether his conduct meets the stringent criteria for impeachment. The Constitution reserves impeachment for instances of ‘Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.’
The ambiguity in defining ‘high Crimes and Misdemeanors,’ as noted by the Senate website, has historically fueled debate.
Republicans’ Evidence Questioned
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, speaking on January 29, emphasized the absence of any proven legal transgressions by Secretary Mayorkas, stating, “House Republicans have produced no evidence that Secretary Mayorkas has broken the law.”
High Crimes or Political Motives?
During the committee’s session, Rep. Bennie Thompson remarked, “Neither of the impeachment charges the committee will consider today are a high crime or misdemeanor.”
Open Letter to Greene
“I will defer a discussion of Constitutionality of your current effort to the many respected scholars and experts across the political spectrum who already have opined it is contrary to law,” Mayorkas wrote in a seven-page letter to Greene.
“What I will not defer to others is a response to the politically motivated accusations and personal attacks you have made against me.”
‘False Accusations’
Secretary Mayorkas firmly dismissed the allegations by the committee as ‘false accusations,’ stating they neither intimidate him nor distract him from his dedication to law enforcement and public service, a commitment that has spanned most of his career.
Next Steps in Impeachment
The House Homeland Security Committee is poised to vote on forwarding articles of impeachment to the House floor. Despite the absence of concrete evidence for ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ — the standard threshold for impeachment — the vote is expected to pass.
From 1876 to Now
In historical context, no cabinet secretary has faced impeachment since William Belknap, the then-United States Secretary of War, in 1876. Under President Ulysses S. Grant, Belknap’s lavish Washington parties raised eyebrows, leading to inquiries about his financial means.
Alleged Corruption
The Senate recounts that a House committee discovered a corruption pattern involving Belknap and ‘wheeler-dealer’ Caleb Marsh, with Belknap receiving payments for appointing one of Marsh’s associates to a profitable military trading post.
Historic Impeachment
Despite his tearful resignation to President Grant, Belknap was still impeached by the House. The subsequent Senate trial, with testimony from over 40 witnesses, achieved a majority vote on all charges but fell short of the two-thirds majority required for a conviction.
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