Republican senators are preparing to block all legislative business in the Senate until a full hearing on the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas takes place.
About a dozen Republican senators have blocked legislative proceedings and normal business in the Senate for at least a week if no agreement is reached on Mayorkas’ impeachment trial, four people familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital. He said he was planning to do so. House impeachment managers will deliver the articles to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.).
“The Senate operates on unanimous consent,” a Senate Republican aide familiar with the discussions told Fox News Digital. “Any senator can do that.”
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Republicans have said they expect Schumer and Democrats to bring forward an impeachment trial for Mayorkas. (Getty Images)
The aide said talks have been ongoing since last week.
A second Senate Republican aide also acknowledged that multiple senators have expressed support for slowing or even halting the business of Congress if impeachment is tabled.
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Schumer’s office did not immediately comment to Fox News Digital.
Senate Republican leaders said this type of holdup is always possible in the Senate, noting that senators can always choose to object. However, they said if the article was distributed this week, the likelihood of an outage of this nature would increase.
Mayorkas was impeached by the House of Representatives over the southern border state. (Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), facing pressure from Republican senators who do not want an impeachment trial to take place before the weekend when most impeachment trials are scheduled, has moved to file articles in the Senate. Decided to wait until next week. Preparing to return to their state.
But the person noted that there would be nothing to stop Republican senators from opposing basic procedural measures if Schumer and Democrats try to launch an impeachment trial next week.
It is not clear whether the conference as a whole wants such a protest.
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Schumer has not said what he or Democrats plan to do in response to the article. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
A person familiar with Tuesday’s Republican Senate luncheon at the National Republican Senatorial Committee told Fox News Digital that discussions also took place there. The idea had the support of many senators, and no one opposed it, the people said.
Senate Republican aides offered examples of what such a Senate gridlock looks like, pointing to adjournments, adjournments, motions to continue business, and opposition to normal business such as summaries, which could lead to prolonged Senate stagnation. He pointed out that he would be forced to go through the process. Actions such as reading your diary or summarizing the previous day’s work. Senators may also object to bills, schedule items, and various requests to advance items with unanimous consent, including deferrals.
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The plan by conservative Republicans is intended as a mechanism to bring Schumer and Democrats to the negotiating table in Mayorkas’ impeachment trial.
Republicans criticized Democrats over motions expected to be introduced in the impeachment trial. (Getty Images)
The White House Counsel’s Office did not immediately comment to Fox News Digital.
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DHS referred Fox News Digital to an earlier statement after the House passed the articles of impeachment.
“Without a single shred of evidence or sound constitutional basis, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have unfairly slandered a dedicated public servant who has served our country enforcing our laws for more than 20 years. “Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security continue to work every day to keep Americans safe,” DHS spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg said at the time.
