The Senate dismissed all impeachment charges against the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkasending the Republican initiative in the House of Representatives to dismiss the official for his handling of the situation on the border with Mexico and ending the process before the arguments even began.
Senators voted to reject the two articles that, according to Republicans, justified starting a political trial. Democrats argued that the articles were unconstitutional. The first article accused Mayorkas of “deliberate and systemic refusal to comply” with the immigration law. The second accused him of “trust abuse” for saying the border was secure. Both votes were 51-48 along party lines, with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting “present.”
Previously, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumersaid he would seek to dismiss the trial arguing that the two accusatory articles presented by the Republicans “did not meet the standards for crimes and serious misdemeanors” and this could set a dangerous precedent.
“For the sake of the integrity of the Senate and to protect impeachment for the rare cases when we really need it, senators should dismiss today’s indictments,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said as he opened the Senate session.
In February, the House of Representatives voted by a narrow majority to impeach Mayorkas for his handling of the situation on the border with Mexico, arguing in the two articles that the official “intentionally and systematically” refused to implement immigration laws. . House officials presented the charges to the Senate on Tuesday, standing on the Senate floor and reading them aloud to a captive audience of senators.
A complete dismissal of the impeachment, with no chance to argue the case, was going to be an embarrassing defeat for Republicans and for the embattled House Speaker, Republican Michael Johnson, who made impeachment a priority. And it is likely to have political resonance for both Republicans and Democrats in a presidential election year in which border security has been a major issue.
Republicans accuse Biden of weak stance on the border
Republicans argue that the president Joe Biden has been weak on the border, as apprehensions for illegal crossings skyrocketed to more than 2 million people during the last two years of his term, although they have decreased from a record 250,000 in December, due to the intensification of the law enforcement in Mexico. Democrats claim that, instead of subjecting a impeachment of MayorkasRepublicans should have accepted a bipartisan Senate compromise aimed at reducing the number of immigrants entering the United States illegally.
When he signed the articles of impeachment on Monday before sending them through the Capitol, Johnson said Schumer should call a trial “to hold those who orchestrated this crisis accountable”.
Schumer “is the only impediment to the American people seeing that there is accountability,” Johnson said. “In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the House of Representatives demands a trial.”
