Due to absences and defections, the House of Representatives was unable to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday.
Some Republicans questioned whether they would be able to impeach Mayorkas. The Republicans could not afford to lose more than three votes. Ken Buck, R-Colo., and Tom McClintock, R-Calif. had already indicated their intention to vote against the impeachment. Steve Scalise, the House Majority leader (R-La. ), was absent. He was not present because he had been undergoing cancer treatment.
The House vote was 221 to 216. Rep. Mike Gallagher, (R-Wisc.). Buck, McClintock, and Gallagher voted with Democrats to reject the resolution.
Tom Emmer, the House GOP majority whip (R-Minn. ), expressed his confidence that Republicans would have enough votes to impeach Mayorkas.
Emmer said to CNN, “We’re whipping Republican voters.” “I am confident that we will pass it.”
The articles of impeachment accused Mayorkas of breaking his oath of support and defense of the Constitution of the United States.
The impeachment motion stated that “Alejandro N. Mayorkas violated immigration and border laws repeatedly during his tenure as the Secretary of Homeland Security.” His unlawful conduct has led to millions of illegal aliens entering the United States each year, with many remaining there unlawfully. His refusal to obey the law is an offense against the separation of powers as outlined in the Constitution of the United States. It also threatens national security and has had a devastating impact on communities throughout the country.
The resolution went on to say, “Despite evidence that his willful, systemic refusal of compliance with the law contributed to unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants, increased control by drug cartels of the Southwest Border, and the impositions of enormous costs to States and Localities affected by the inflow of aliens. Alejandro N. Mayorkas continued to refuse to comply with law and acted to grave detriment to the interests of United States.”
The resolution noted that Mayorkas had “knowingly made false claims and knowingly obstructed the lawful oversight of Department of Homeland Security […], principally to obscure the results of his willful systemic refusal of compliance with the law.”
Even if the impeachment process had been successful, it was unlikely that a conviction would be achieved in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.Y.) has refused to commit even to holding a trial. He said, “Let’s wait and see what the House decides.”
In a speech on the floor last week, he stated that “House Republicans failed to provide any evidence of an offense resembling one which could be impeachable.” “Abusing the Constitution to pursue this sham of an impeachment is a new and ignominious level.”
The Democrats have said that there is “no proof” to impeach Joe Biden, just as they did not need to impeach Mayorkas. For months, they have claimed that there is no evidence to support the claim that Biden profited or was involved with Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. This is despite an array of evidence including eyewitness testimony, whistleblower testimonies, White House logs, and bank records.
