Senate set to sidestep Mayorkas trial

The impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to reach a deadlock this week as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York prepares to abolish the trial, highlighting the administration’s response. Republicans who want to do so are upset. border.

House Republicans impeached Mayorkas in mid-February, but official communication of the article remains stalled as Congress tries to fund the government.

That will change if the impeachment managers introduce their impeachment charges on Wednesday. The next day, Senate President pro tempore Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will swear in senators to the jury, and Schumer expects to permanently remove them soon.

Democratic leaders declined to say exactly how they plan to handle the articles of impeachment. His options include withholding a vote, rejecting the article, or referring it to a special committee to kill it.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle hope he will avoid a trial.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) relayed a message he recently received from Mr. Schumer, saying, “I’m hopeful that once we get this, we’ll get rid of this quickly.” He added that it is still unclear whether it will end. “We consider it a stunt. Republicans consider this a stunt. That doesn’t mean some people won’t vote yes, but I don’t think anyone would consider this something serious.” Is not.”

House Republicans accused Mayorkas of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” including “willful and systematic refusal to comply with the law and violation of the public trust,” but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said both charges were harsh. I’m denying it.

In a statement last month, the Department of Homeland Security said: “Without a shred of evidence or sound constitutional basis, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have been enforcing our laws and serving our country for more than 20 years. “It unfairly slandered a dedicated public servant.”

Democrats have consistently condemned Mayorkas’ impeachment and have generally supported Schumer’s choices regardless of his choice.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said “right away” when asked if he would vote to reject the process. “That’s ridiculous. I think even House Republicans have lost interest in that. …These are supposed to be felonies and misdemeanors. Really? Which ones? They don’t have any details. ”

Democrats are widely expected to secure the 51 votes needed to advance or reject the provision. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) He admitted the same thing to reporters last week. in his home state.

“Mr. Schumer could file a motion to dismiss or to sue. I hope he will do that,” McConnell said. “And with Democrats in the majority, it may not last long.”

Durbin, the leading Democratic vote-getter, said it remains to be seen whether Democrats have the 51 votes to dismiss the case, but added that he had not heard of any disagreements among his aides. Ta.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-Va.) called the impeachment effort against Mayorkas “absolute nonsense,” while Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said: already said He is in favor of rejecting the article.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona), an independent who typically votes Democratic, has not commented on the possibility of a Mayorkas trial. A spokesperson for Sinema pointed to her policy of not previewing her voting results.

The big question surrounding Mr. Mayorkas’ impeachment is whether there would be any political fallout if Mr. Tester, Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), and other incumbent Democrats up for re-election in the fall vote against the trial. It depends on whether it exists or not.

The Republican Party has made immigration and border issues a top issue in its campaign. large expense They are attacking Democrats on this issue, and they believe the vote to repeal the article will be in their hands.

“They apparently don’t think it’s worth their time,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told The Hill. “And they certainly want to avoid the embarrassment of experiencing failure after failure of the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas when it comes to simply enforcing the law.”

Most Senate Republicans lined up behind the trial to further emphasize the Biden administration’s response to the border crisis, including its leadership. McConnell said last week that “it would be nice if there was an actual trial,” but noted that the numbers suggest otherwise.

But some Republican lawmakers still do not support the trial. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) he suggested that he could support While filing a motion to dismiss, a handful of Republicans are being considered as candidates.

Sen. Thom Tillis, RN.C., an ally of the leadership, said Monday that he had not yet made a decision on a possible trial.

Heritage Action on Monday called on senators to vote against Schumer’s anticipated push to dismiss the trial. Top conservatives in the Senate support this.

“The Senate has an obligation to vote on articles of impeachment,” Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. He said he “respected” the prosecution process. Former President Trump was impeached in 2019 by House Democrats, who held the Senate majority.

“We fulfilled our constitutional obligation and held a full trial in court. Now that the tables have been turned, Senate Democrats are attempting to destroy yet another precedent and further politicize the impeachment process.” is writing. “Democrats will break new norms and set a dangerous precedent they will come to regret.”