Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced impeachment proceedings by the U.S. House on February 13, 2024. A photograph captured Mayorkas addressing the media, discussing the public safety measures planned for Super Bowl week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 7, 2024. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
House Republicans will postpone delivering the two articles of impeachment against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate until next week, according to a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson.
In a statement issued late in the afternoon, a spokesperson announced that the House will be sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of allowing the Senate enough time to fulfill its constitutional duty and stressed that it is crucial for the Senate to take responsibility and conduct an impeachment trial.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, along with 11 impeachment managers, had intended to deliver the two articles of impeachment to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday. However, they decided to postpone the delivery following a request from Senate Republicans.
Mayorkas is being accused in the articles of willfully and systematically refusing to comply with the law, as well as breaching public trust.
Once the articles are delivered to the Senate, the process for an impeachment trial begins immediately. Senate Republicans wanted to avoid a situation where they would have to conduct the early stages of the trial instead of returning home on Thursday, as they usually do.
Senate Republicans held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon where they expressed their belief that an impeachment trial would not last longer than a week. However, they also expressed their preference for the trial not to start too close to a fly-out date.
Utah’s Mike Lee expressed concern about delaying the start of the debate until the end of the week. He emphasized the importance of allowing adequate time for discussion and preventing any rushed decisions influenced by the desire to leave town quickly.
During a press conference on Tuesday, New York Democrat Schumer expressed his intention to expedite the process, much to the dismay of Senate Republicans who are advocating for a trial.
According to Schumer, he finds the articles of impeachment to be “absurd” and believes that the charges outlined in the House complaint do not warrant impeachment.
He emphasized that using impeachment as a way to resolve policy disagreements is inappropriate.
With a slim majority of 51 seats, Schumer has the power to make a motion to dismiss or table the articles.
In a statement, Schumer expressed readiness of the Senate to proceed.
Schumer expressed readiness to proceed with the plan, emphasizing the commitment to move forward as quickly as possible.
The trial could potentially begin within days of another Mayorkas appearance on Capitol Hill if the articles are delivered to the Senate next week.
The House Homeland Security Committee is set to have Mayorkas testify on April 16 regarding the DHS budget for fiscal year 2025. This committee has already conducted two impeachment proceedings and proceeded with articles of impeachment.
Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, who also serves as the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, has been appointed as one of the 11 impeachment managers.
The remaining Republican impeachment managers include a diverse group of representatives. They are Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ben Cline of Virginia, Andrew Garbarino of New York, Michael Guest of Mississippi, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Laurel Lee of Florida, August Pfluger of Texas, and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
