On Tuesday House impeachment managers will deliver the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate.
Roughly two months after voting to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, House Republicans will deliver the charges to the Senate on Tuesday to formally kick off a trial. The Senate is not expected to convict or remove Mayorkas. Democratic sources tell NPR that they expect Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move to dispose of the charges, with either a motion to dismiss or by tabling the charges.
“Impeachment should never be used to settle a policy disagreement. That would set a horrible precedent for the Congress,” Schumer said Monday.
Initially House Speaker Mike Johnson planned to transmit the articles last week, but he postponed the action after a group of Senate Republicans pressed for more time to prepare and make a case for a full debate.
After signing the resolution on Monday, Johnson urged Schumer in a written statement to hold a public trial. “The catastrophe at the southern border is the number one issue for the American people. We must hold those who engineered this crisis to full account,” he said.
Schumer said his plans had not changed with the House Republicans’ delay. He noted on Monday, “We are ready to go whenever the House sends us the articles. We want to address this issue as expeditiously as possible.”
Republicans in both chambers are eager to put the issue of border security front and center during this election year. President Biden’s handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border remains a weak spot politically for him, according to recent public opinion polls. GOP senators and challengers in key swing state contests are eager to force votes on the issue to try to link Democrats with the Biden administration’s policies.
Once the resolution is sent to the Senate, no other legislative business can be taken up, unless all 100 senators agree otherwise. The debate comes amid a busy week.
