Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday wrote to Senator Chuck Schumer, the bulk chief, demanding that the Senate maintain an impeachment trial subsequent month of Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland safety secretary. The speaker referred to as plans to rapidly dismiss the costs towards Mr. Mayorkas “a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American individuals.”
In a letter signed by the 11 Republicans he named as impeachment managers to attempt Mr. Mayorkas, Mr. Johnson wrote that they deliberate to ship over the costs on April 10, after the Senate returns from its Easter break. Senators in each events, who function the jury for impeachment trials, have indicated that they don’t wish to sit by means of such a continuing within the case of Mr. Mayorkas, however Home Republicans’ insistence on it.
The letter rehashed the accusations towards the homeland safety secretary, with signatories together with Representatives Mark E. Inexperienced of Tennessee, the chairman of the Homeland Safety Committee, and Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who launched articles of impeachment towards Mr. Mayorkas. The Republicans condemned what they referred to as a “willful and systemic refusal to adjust to the legislation and his breach of the general public belief,” accused the secretary of mendacity to Congress, and blamed him for the state of the southern border with Mexico.
There may be little doubt that the Senate, which is managed by Democrats, will facet with Mr. Mayorkas. Leaders are anticipated to dispense with a trial rapidly, both by dismissing the costs instantly or shifting to a fast vote wherein Republicans haven’t any probability of securing the two-thirds essential to convict and take away Mr. Mayorkas.
Mr. Schumer has referred to as the impeachment effort a “sham” and “one other embarrassment for Home Republicans.”
“Home Republicans failed to provide any proof that Secretary Mayorkas has dedicated any crime,” he stated in a press release Thursday. “Home Republicans failed to point out he has violated the Structure. Home Republicans didn’t current any proof of something resembling an impeachable offense. It is a new low for Home Republicans.”
Home Republicans impeached Mr. Mayorkas in February by a single vote, racing forward with a case that constitutional students referred to as groundless earlier than Democrats received a particular election on Lengthy Island and wiped away the bulk assist to approve the costs. However as an alternative of rapidly sending the articles over to the Senate to attempt to drive out one of many officers they blame for chaos at America’s southern border, Republicans have sat on them.
G.O.P. lawmakers are hoping to construct public stress for a full trial, which might generate media protection of their accusations towards President Biden’s high immigration official. That might give them a high-profile platform for certainly one of their largest election-year assaults on the president and Democrats — a transparent political boon even when Mr. Mayorkas is finally acquitted.
“We name upon you to satisfy your constitutional obligation to carry this trial,” the letter acknowledged. “The American individuals demand a safe border, an finish to this disaster, and accountability for these accountable. To desk articles of impeachment with out ever listening to a single argument or reviewing a chunk of proof could be a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American individuals whom all of us serve.”
Whereas some Senate Republicans, akin to Senator Mike Lee of Utah, have demanded a trial, others have been much less enthusiastic concerning the impeachment effort, arguing the ground time could be higher used on much less partisan issues.
Mia Ehrenberg, a spokeswoman for the Division of Homeland Safety, stated the Republicans’ impeachment effort “shall be remembered by historical past for trampling on the Structure for political achieve somewhat than working to resolve the intense challenges at our border.”
“With no shred of proof or reliable constitutional grounds, and regardless of bipartisan opposition, Home Republicans have falsely smeared a devoted public servant who has spent greater than 20 years implementing our legal guidelines and serving our nation,” Ms. Ehrenberg stated.