After the House voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with a slim Republican majority, the Senate has moved to shut down further action. It will not bring Mayorkas to a full trial. Republicans are upset about Mayorkas’s management of the U.S.-Mexico border issues.
Voting Along Party Lines
The Senate voted 51-48 and 51-49 on two party-line votes to drop the impeachment charges against Mayorkas. This vote to quash further consideration came before the Senate had the opportunity to hear formal arguments.
Arguments Against the Articles
Senate Democrats claim that the impeachment articles do not breach constitutional standards. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led with this justification for ending the inquiry. Democrats in the Senate followed his lead.
Schumer’s Commentary
According to Schumer, the Republican’s arguments against Mayorkas did not reach the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors” required of the impeachment criteria. The Majority Leader spoke of the dangers of establishing a precedent of prosecuting political opponents over policy disagreements.
The Political Implications
The dismissal of the impeachment charges is a significant blow for House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Republican Conference, as the hearing in the Senate consumed much energy and effort of the House so far this year. Republicans are speaking out regarding the disregard of Senate Democrats for securing the border, which they claim will come back to roost in the November election.
Republican Stance on Border Security
Republicans have long criticized President Biden and Sec. Mayorkas over weak immigration enforcement policies, which they blame for the exponential increase in illegal crossings in the recent past.
Senate Reply to Challenge
In the Senate, Democrats have responded to the end of the impeachment inquiry by turning the tables back on the House, stating that the House should have taken up the bipartisan Senate agreement that provided funds for both border security and foreign aid. At the time, Speaker Johnson roundly rejected the prospect of taking up the Senate’s bill.
Historical Context of the Trial
All eyes were on the impeachment attempt, as Mayorkas would have been the first Cabinet Secretary in 150 years to be impeached. In contrast, in 2020 and 2021, the Senate heard two separate impeachment trials against former President Donald Trump. During this process, the GOP majority in the Senate was criticized for truncating and manipulating the procedures to effectuate a swift and clean exoneration.
Senate’s Quick Dismissal Strategy
Although Republican Senators rallied for a full impeachment hearing for Mayorkas, it was always likely that Schumer and Senate Democrats would push for a swift wrap-up of the charges. The writing was on the wall, as Senate leaders did nothing to prepare for the ceremonious and procedural steps necessary to prepare for an impeachment trial.
Republican Response and Frustration
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led his colleagues in expressing frustration about the swift and decisive dismissal of charges. McConnell is known to believe in adhering to precedent and tradition in Senate procedures and sees the swift dismissal as giving short shrift to the procedural and constitutional grounds of impeachment, which confers the ability to hold public officials accountable for their service.
Despite McConnell’s objections, no latitude was given in the process by which the Democrats in the Senate ended the impeachment investigation.
The Impact of Previous Trump Trials
Previous trials in 2020 and 2021 by Donald Trump were overseen by the Republican majority, with many Democrats weighing in with complaints that the majority was unfairly driving the process and, ultimately, the outcome of the inquiry. This case is proving the reverse, as the Republicans are now decrying the methods used by Democrats to judge a member of their own party’s Administration.
Mayorkas’s Focus During the Trial
Despite being impeached by the House months ago, Mayorkas has continued his work unobstructed. Currently, Mayorkas is launching a campaign to safeguard children’s internet usage. Mayorkas has commented that he chooses to focus on his job responsibilities rather than pay heed to partisan spats between members of Congress.
Senate and House Dynamics
The distinctions between the House and Senate, as governed by different political parties, are expressed in the handling of the Mayorkas impeachment. Republicans in the House are outraged by the conditions at the U.S. border, whereas the Senate is not willing to hold the Secretary of that jurisdiction accountable for the border crisis through means of impeachment. The Senate continues to point back to the failed border security package.
The Outcome of the Votes
All Senators voted with their own party in the Senate regarding the Mayorkas impeachment votes. Senator Mitt Romney considered voting with the Democrats but decided to vote with Republicans on the topic at the forefront of his party’s priority list.
Reflection on the Trial’s Legacy
While the Mayorkas impeachment trial is ended for the current Congressional session, Republicans are expected to hit hard on the topic during the run up to the November election. Even if President Biden is reelected for a second term, it is probable that Mayorkas will not be tapped for Homeland Security Secretary again, as his name and position has been sullied by impeachment in the House of Representatives.
