Democrat-led Senate dismisses both impeachment charges against Mayorkas
The Senate on Wednesday dismissed both charges brought by House Republicans against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas just as his impeachment trial was getting underway in the 100-member body.
The first vote — which alleges Mayorkas had willfully refused to comply with immigration law — was voted down 51-49 along party lines.
On Wednesday ahead of the trial, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had called the charges “nakedly partisan” as members of the Senate were sworn in after noon as jurors for the impeachment trial.
At the trial and before the first vote to drop the first charge, Schumer said it “does not allege conduct that rises to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor” and “therefore, is unconstitutional.”
Mayorkas previously had called both charges “baseless” allegations
The Senate voted to dismiss the second charge later in the day, doing so also on a 51-49 vote.
“Our colleagues know that we are obligated to take these proceedings seriously,” outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the first vote to dismiss.
“This is what our oath prescribes. It is what the history and precedent require, and I would urge each of our colleagues to consider that this is what our framers actually envisioned,” McConnell said.
The House on Tuesday officially delivered the impeachment articles to the Democratic-controlled Senate.
On the CBS Mornings show Wednesday morning, Mayorkas said, “As they work on impeachment, I’m working on the mission of the Department of Homeland
Security.”
In a letter last week to Schumer, 43 GOP senators had demanded a trial be held by pointing to historical precedent.
“Let’s not kid ourselves about what’s going on today,” Schumer said. “The impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas has noting to do with crimes and misdemeanors and everything to do with helping Donald Trump on the campaign trail.”
“To validate this gross abuse by the House would be a grave mistake and could set a dangerous precedent for the future,” Schumer said.