Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed Thursday that the Senate will convene an impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas next month. Republicans are worried that top Democrats will find a way to rush an impeachment trial.
Congressman Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has sent a notice that the House will transmit two articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10. In response, the plan was announced.
“As previously stated, after the House impeachment managers submit articles of impeachment to the Senate, senators will be sworn in as jurors at the trial the next day,” the Brooklyn Democratic Party said in a statement.
“Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray” [D-Wash.] will be presided over. ”
Once senators are sworn in, one of them could introduce a motion to dismiss the case, which would require approval by a simple majority. If that happens, Mayorkas’ trial could end before it even begins.
Some Republicans are already suggesting that’s exactly what will happen.
“Chuck Schumer is trying to break more than 200 years of Senate precedent by instituting an impeachment trial,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) complained in X last month. “This deprives the American people of the opportunity to hear evidence of Mr. Biden’s lawless open border policies.”
Mr. Mayorkas’ acquittal is already a foregone conclusion, with Democrats holding a 51-49 Senate majority and no one across party lines willing to vote to remove the DHS secretary.
House Republicans last month voted 214-213 to impeach Mayorkas on two counts after last month’s vote narrowly failed.
The articles of impeachment accuse Mayorkas of intentionally and systematically refusing to abide by the law and betraying the public’s trust.
The first article claims Mayorkas has chosen not to enforce border laws, and the second article accuses Mayorkas of lying to Congress that the border is “secure” and failing to respond to requests for documents. I’m blaming.
The Department of Homeland Security said, “The travesty of impeachment distracts from other important national security priorities and the work Congress needs to do to correct immigration laws that have actually been violated.” said.
Schumer called the move against Mayorkas “a new low for House Republicans,” arguing that “the only reason for this impeachment is for Speaker Johnson to further appease Donald Trump.”
In Thursday’s letter to Schumer, Republicans laid out a “systematic approach” and argued that Mayorkas had clearly engaged in illegal activity.
“Constitutional Basis for Secretary Mayorkas’ Conviction and Dismissal”
“There is good evidence and the historical record is clear,” they argued.
“[Mayorkas] “Through a series of memorandums, he directed his employees to violate U.S. immigration law,” the letter states. “During his tenure, he has repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about the scope of the crisis and his own role in it.”
“Mr. Mayorkas violated the public’s trust and willfully refused to abide by federal immigration law. He deserves to be impeached, and the American people are demanding those responsible for the border crisis be held accountable,” Johnson said. he said in a statement.
Congress is currently in Easter recess, with the Senate scheduled to reconvene on April 8 and the House of Representatives the following day.
