The House voted 209-201 to refer an article of impeachment to the Homeland Security Committee rather than immediately taking it up. Eight Republicans joined 201 Democrats in voting to prevent the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the first-ever sitting Cabinet member to face impeachment.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, pushed for the vote over the objection of some colleagues, bypassing the usual impeachment process. Other Republicans expressed concerns over the need for Mr. Mayorkas’ removal rather than procedural questions.
Ms. Greene accused Mr. Mayorkas of allowing an “invasion” at the border, violating the Constitution, and endangering the public with record amounts of fentanyl and people on the terrorism watch list flooding into the country.
Mayorkas’ supporters argued that the impeachment push was politically motivated and lacked evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors as required by the Constitution.
The eight Republicans who voted to block impeachment were Reps. Cliff Bentz of Oregon; Ken Buck of Colorado; Tom McClintock, John Duarte and Darrell Issa of California; Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina; and Mike Turner of Ohio.
Despite early discussions about impeaching Mr. Mayorkas, it was clear that significant Republican lawmakers wouldn’t vote for impeachment. Committees were assigned to investigate Mr. Mayorkas before the Homeland Security Committee released reports accusing the secretary of repeated “dereliction of duty.”
As the mounting border chaos has swung some Republicans, Ms. Greene’s resolution did not gather enough support. The Judiciary Committee is supposed to handle impeachment.
Ms. Greene called on their supporters to pressure their members of Congress to vote against impeachment, arguing that Mr. Mayorkas is breaking the law by not enforcing the law.
