A group of Senate Republicans is pushing for a comprehensive impeachment trial against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas despite the Democratic majority’s expected move to dismiss the effort.
The House recently voted to impeach Mayorkas, marking the first time a Cabinet secretary has faced impeachment in nearly 150 years.
House Republicans initiated the impeachment, accusing Mayorkas of willful refusal to comply with the law and breach of public trust.
Although Senate Republicans acknowledge that the effort is unlikely to succeed in the Democratic-controlled Senate, some conservatives are advocating for a full trial.
In a letter addressed to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 13 Senate Republicans urged opposition to Democratic attempts to avoid a trial.
They expressed concern that Senate Democrats plan to vote to table the articles of impeachment, a move they deemed unprecedented in U.S. history. The group emphasized the importance of upholding their constitutional duty and criticized any attempt to dismiss the trial outright.
They argued that if the roles were reversed and Republicans held the majority, Democrats would fiercely oppose such actions. McConnell’s office declined to comment on the letter.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office announced that Mayorkas’ impeachment trial would commence after senators reconvene on February 26. However, the exact procedures for the trial remain uncertain.
While precedent suggests a swift trial, the Senate could pursue various avenues, including dismissal, delay, or expeditious proceedings. With Democrats holding a slim majority, Republicans have limited recourse if the majority remains united.
Senator Rick Scott also wrote to Vice President Kamala Harris, urging her to oversee the impeachment trial instead of Senator Patty Murray. Scott argued that the ongoing immigration crisis necessitates a Senate trial overseen by the Vice President, emphasizing her role as the constitutional presiding officer.
As the Senate prepares to address Mayorkas’ impeachment, the debate over trial procedures and partisan dynamics underscores the broader political divisions surrounding the issue.
