House Speaker Mike Johnson made a significant announcement on Thursday, revealing plans to transmit the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10. Following this, senators are anticipated to be sworn in and seated as jurors on April 11.
In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Johnson, along with the Republican impeachment managers, urged the prompt scheduling of a trial concerning the matter. The House had previously voted to impeach Mayorkas on February 13 by a narrow margin of 214-213.
The impeachment was based on allegations by Republicans, who accused Mayorkas of failing to enforce border laws amidst what they termed as a “crisis” of high illegal immigration. Mayorkas vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as “baseless.”
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Johnson delayed sending over the impeachment articles until the government was fully funded. The letter to Schumer emphasized the clarity, comprehensiveness, and compelling nature of the evidence supporting both charges against Mayorkas.
It highlighted the unprecedented nature of impeaching a sitting Cabinet official, calling for timely action by the Senate.
When asked for a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred to a previous statement issued when Mayorkas was initially impeached. The statement vehemently denounced the impeachment as baseless and lacking legitimate constitutional grounds. DHS reaffirmed Mayorkas’s dedication to serving the country and reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Americans.
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Following the transmission of the articles to the Senate, senators will be sworn in and seated as a jury. While Schumer has not explicitly stated his course of action regarding the impeachment articles, there is widespread speculation that Democrats may move swiftly to dismiss the impeachment effort.
Schumer has options, including proceeding with a trial, moving to dismiss the articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote, or referring the matter to an impeachment committee.
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House Republicans, however, called upon Schumer to fulfill his constitutional obligation to hold a trial, emphasizing the demand for border security, crisis resolution, and accountability for those deemed responsible.
The impeachment managers appointed for the trial include prominent Republican figures such as Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, among others.
Despite calls from several Republican senators for a full trial, it remains uncertain how Schumer will navigate the proceedings. Ultimately, a conviction and removal from office would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, a threshold currently deemed unlikely to be met.
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