Impeachment dismissal likely
Senate Democrats poised to kill House’s action on Mayorkas
WASHINGTON — For the third time in five years, senators will be sworn in as jurors for an impeachment trial. But the chamber is expected to spend far less time on the charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas than the ones brought against former President Donald Trump — or maybe no time at all.
The Republican-controlled House impeached Mayorkas by a single vote margin on Feb. 13, recommending that Mayorkas be removed from office over his handling of the U.s.-mexico border. With two articles of impeachment, the House charge that Mayorkas has
“willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws and breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.
The 214-213 vote was the first time in nearly 150 years a Cabinet secretary had been impeached. While the Senate is now obligated to consider the charges, Senate leaders have shown little interest in spending much time on the matter.
Under impeachment rules, a group of House managers — members who act as prosecutors and are appointed by the speaker — will deliver the impeachment charges by reading the articles on the Senate floor.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA., has not yet said when that will happen, but it could be as soon as this week, when the Senate returns to session after a two-week recess.
If Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., can muster a simple majority, Democrats could dismiss the trial outright or move to table the two articles, ending the House’s effort and allowing the Senate to move on to other business.
Getting to 51 votes would require every single Democrat and the chamber’s three Independents to vote to dismiss, or potentially fewer if any Republicans join them.