Some of the loudest voices in the GOP have been pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to transmit the impeachment papers of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to the Senate or risk being removed.
Senate Republicans, however, believe the charges could be dismissed without a trial, so they have now convinced Mayorkas not to transmit the documents.
Talking Points…
- Mayorkas impeached in the House
- The Senate trial
- Analysis
In February, the House voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, but the documents have yet to be sent to the Senate. Prior to the Easter break, Speaker Johnson made it clear that he would be transmitting the documents to the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowing to put the impeachment on the floor.
When the measure passed in the House, it did not even have the full support of the GOP, with three Republicans voting against the measure, which immediately caused concern in the party. Speaker Johnson justified the impeachment, stating:
"[Mayorkas] has abdicated his responsibility; he has breached the public trust, and he has disregarded the laws that Congress has passed…This is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government to secure the border. If you don't have a secure border, you don't have safety, you don't have security, and you don't have sovereignty."
Mia Ehrenberg, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, responded to the impeachment, stating:
"Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country."
After the impeachment passed the House, there was growing concern that Schumer would floor the impeachment, only to have the case dismissed without a trial. Democrats would only need a majority vote to do that, which has created significant concern among GOP members of the Senate.
There are some border-state Democrats that have expressed concerns regarding Mayorkas, but are they willing to cross the line and vote for an impeachment of a member of a Democrat administration? I am sure that has something to do with the GOP requesting Johnson delay sending the papers to the Senate. Minority Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will need to take the temperature on this and talk to more moderate Senators to see where they stand.
Johnson announced this week that the transmittal of the documents would be delayed until next week. His office stated:
"To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week. There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial."
In reality, this was being delayed to ensure Republican members of the Senate had time to discuss the measure as well as blocking Schumer from putting the measure on the floor on Thursday when Senators were rushing to get back to their home states for the weekend.
Senator Kennedy (R-KY) explained that this would give the GOP caucus "a chance to discuss the issue." Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was a bit more direct about the matter, stating:
"Thursday afternoon, senators rush to the airport and fly to get out of here. Schumer wants it on a Thursday afternoon because he wants no coverage."
I have always been in favor of the impeachment of Mayorkas, if for no other reason than to put Democrats on the record regarding Mayorkas' actions on the border. I never expected the impeachment to pass, but I think it is important for the GOP to be able to present their case and let the American people hear it, then make their decision about this administration in November.
If, however, Schumer manages to get the charges dismissed with a simple motion on the floor, this will be a complete and utter disaster for Republicans because the media will buy into the narrative that Democrats are pitching that this was a partisan move. The GOP needs border Democrats on the record about this, which will only happen if we see a full impeachment trial of Mayorkas.
