The House finally delivered articles impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday, kicking off what’s expected to be an abbreviated process Democrats have vowed will end in acquittal.
The House delivered articles impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday, kicking off what is expected to be an abbreviated process that Democrats have vowed will end in acquittal.
Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee led 10 fellow Republicans in marching the two articles across the Capitol and reading the 19-page indictment into the Senate record.
Senators will be sworn in as jurors on Wednesday. Democrats hope to make a quick motion to derail the proceedings and prevent a full trial, blocking the House from making its case.
Hours before Mr. Green stood in the well of the Senate, he and Mr. Mayorkas tussled in a hearing. Republicans said Mr. Mayorkas continued to build evidence for the ignominy of being the first sitting Cabinet secretary in history to be impeached.
“You have refused to comply with the laws passed by Congress, and you have breached the public trust,” Mr. Green said. “We have all witnessed the devastating results of your open-borders agenda.”
Mr. Mayorkas has overseen the worst border chaos in modern American history. Authorities have reported record levels of illegal immigrants, fentanyl and terrorism suspects sneaking from Mexico into the U.S.
The secretary blamed global factors and a lack of money. He insisted during his testimony Tuesday that he has done the best he can on the border.
“With the resources and the authorities that we have been provided, it is as secure as we can make it,” Mr. Mayorkas said.
Democrats told Mr. Mayorkas that the Senate would exonerate him.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, is expected to make a motion Wednesday to either table or dismiss the articles, short-circuiting the trial that has been a part of every previous impeachment.
That would require only a majority vote, which Democrats can muster with just the members of their caucus.
