Tonight, four Republicans voted against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado), and members of the Republican leadership, House Vice-Speaker Blake Moore (R-Calif.). Utah).
However, Moore’s “no” vote on Mayorkas’ impeachment is marked with an asterisk. He is not seriously opposed to impeaching Mayorkas. Mr. Moore voted no so that the Republican effort to impeach Mr. Mayorkas would survive the next day.
Four House Republicans vote against impeaching Alejandro Mayorkas
In other words:
Moore had joined the board in favor of impeaching Mayorkas. But Republicans miscalculated the number of yes votes they had and the number of Democrats present and able to vote no.
The current breakdown of the 431-member House is 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats, with four seats vacant.
Republicans can only lose three votes. However, that is only if all members are present. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) has not voted all year because of cancer treatment. Scalise will return to FOX soon, he said.
(Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
As a result, efforts to impeach Mayorkas began as soon as the vote to impeach him ended 215-215.
At least on Tuesday night.
By rules, a tie vote loses in the House. In other words, Mr. Mayorkas’ impeachment effort ended in defeat.
This is the only time the House has ever rejected an article of impeachment. In December 1997, the House of Representatives adopted only two articles of impeachment against former President Clinton.
Why couldn’t the House impeach Mayorkas?
So what should Republicans have done to salvage the impeachment gambit?
Under House rules, members of the prevailing side of a roll call vote (in this case, the NAYS) can “reconsider” their vote. In other words, request a re-vote.
Moore was in favor, but on the losing side. Mr. Gallagher, Mr. McClintock and Mr. Buck certainly did not intend to move to order a new vote. So it was left in the hands of House Republican leaders.
Mr. Moore changed his vote to no. It’s not because I’m against Mayorkas’ impeachment. But now he was on the “winning” side. ” This left House Republicans with the option of holding another vote. Perhaps when Scalise returns, or if Republicans win next week’s Long Island special election. Republicans are hopeful that the Republican candidate will win. Republicans may get reinforcements for impeachment after Maji Melesa Pilip defeats former Rep. Tom Suozzi (N.Y.) for the seat vacated by expelled former Rep. George Santos (N.Y.) unknown…
Of course, this assumes that no other Republican senators are absent that day.
As I always say, you’re trying to get over 400 people in the same room at the same time. Members are always absent for some reason. disease. family promise. Funeral. Events within the district. You name it.
Top Republican says Democrats do not support impeachment of Mayorkas and says he will “answer” at voting booth
Of course, impeachment resolutions have “privileges.” That means any member could immediately reintroduce an impeachment plan and the House would have to take it up. But by preserving the impeachment inquiry, committee reports and other documents, Moore’s maneuver allows Republican leaders to maintain the impeachment strategy initiated by the Homeland Security Committee and try again. became. Maintaining a more thorough impeachment plan would also give Republicans more credibility if they bring articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
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Furthermore, it is rare for key members to change their votes in order to potentially order a new vote in the House. It happens with some regularity in the Senate. Over the years, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have often voted yes. I had no choice but to change from a yes vote to a yes vote. No – to ask for a re-vote on a failed issue.
Mr. Moore’s efforts were not unprecedented in the House. But one that was more often witnessed on the other side of the Senate Capitol Dome.
