House Republicans Demand Full Impeachment Trial for Mayorkas

House Impeaches Mayorkas What Happens Next? Articles of Impeachment Senate Eyes Quick Acquittal Republicans’ Dilemma U.S. World Business Arts Lifestyle Opinion Audio Games Cooking Wirecutter The Athletic You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. House Impeaches Mayorkas […]

House Republicans Demand Full Impeachment Trial for Mayorkas

House Republicans Demand Full Impeachment Trial for Mayorkas thumbnail

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.

They argue that quickly dispensing with the charges, as senators in both parties are inclined to do, would be an affront to Americans.

Speaker Mike Johnson purses his lips as he stands near other lawmakers in suits.
Despite entreaties by Speaker Mike Johnson and House leadership, there is little doubt that the Democratic-controlled Senate will side with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.Credit…Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Luke Broadwater

Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday wrote to Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, demanding that the Senate hold an impeachment trial next month of Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary. The speaker called plans to quickly dismiss the charges against Mr. Mayorkas “a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American people.”

In a letter signed by the 11 Republicans he named as impeachment managers to try Mr. Mayorkas, Mr. Johnson wrote that they planned to send over the charges on April 10, after the Senate returns from its Easter break. Senators in both parties, who serve as the jury for impeachment trials, have indicated that they do not want to sit through such a proceeding in the case of Mr. Mayorkas, notwithstanding House Republicans’ insistence on it.

The letter rehashed the accusations against the homeland security secretary, with signatories including Representatives Mark E. Green of Tennessee, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who introduced articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas. The Republicans condemned what they called a “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of the public trust,” accused the secretary of lying to Congress, and blamed him for the state of the southern border with Mexico.

There is little doubt that the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, will side with Mr. Mayorkas. Leaders are expected to dispense with a trial quickly, either by dismissing the charges immediately or moving to a quick vote in which Republicans have no chance of securing the two-thirds necessary to convict and remove Mr. Mayorkas.

Mr. Schumer has called the impeachment effort a “sham” and “another embarrassment for House Republicans.”

Image

House Republicans are hoping for a full trial, which would generate media coverage of their accusations against Mr. Mayorkas, the Biden administration’s top immigration official. Credit…Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.


Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.