The House Fails to Approve Articles of Impeachment for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
The House Republicans were unable to pass articles of impeachment for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, despite it being seen as a chance to fulfill a key promise to GOP base voters. The final vote resulted in a tie, with four Republicans voting against the measure, leading to a vote of 214 to 216. The resolution may be brought up for another vote in the future, but the timing is uncertain.
Republican Efforts and Challenges
After the Republican Party regained control of the House in the 2022 midterms, the base and conservative media figures called for the impeachment of several Biden administration officials, including Mayorkas. However, with a slim majority, Republicans were unable to unite their conference and maintain a majority on the Mayorkas impeachment measure.
Accusations and Justifications
House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Mayorkas of willfully and systematically refusing to comply with the law in enforcing border policy and breaching public trust. He emphasized that this extreme measure was necessary due to the extreme times. On the other hand, Representative Tom McClintock argued against impeachment, stating that the American founders specifically rejected using impeachment for political disputes, as it would undermine the separation of powers.
Bipartisan Border Security Deal Collapses
Meanwhile, in the Senate, a bipartisan deal to enhance border security collapsed, adding to the challenges faced in addressing immigration issues.