Senate Dismisses Mayorkas Impeachment Trial, Sparking Partisan Clash

Senate dismisses Mayorkas impeachment trial, sparking significant partisan debate. Read the full story on the political fallout.

The U.S. Senate swiftly dismissed two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, putting an end to the Republican-led effort to remove him from office over his handling of the southern border. In a series of party-line votes, the Democrat-controlled chamber rejected the charges, deeming them unconstitutional and arguing they did not meet the high standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors” required for impeachment.

Democrats Dismiss Articles, Calling Impeachment a "Gross Abuse"

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the impeachment a “gross abuse” by House Republicans and warned that validating it would set a dangerous precedent. “To validate this gross abuse by the House would be a grave mistake and could set a dangerous precedent for the future,” he said on the Senate floor. The outcome had been widely anticipated, as a two-thirds majority would have been needed to convict Mayorkas.

The dismissal dealt a blow to Republicans who had hoped to use the trial to spotlight border security issues ahead of the 2024 elections. Several GOP senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas, made efforts to have a trial where they could air grievances against Mayorkas and the administration’s border policies. However, their attempts were thwarted by the Democratic majority.

The House had impeached Mayorkas in February, with Republicans accusing him of failing to secure the border and lying to Congress. It marked the first cabinet secretary impeachment in 150 years, which Democrats criticized as a partisan attack.

Republicans Blast Process, Vow Electoral Consequences

Republicans blasted the Senate’s swift dismissal of the articles, arguing that rejecting them without a full trial was unprecedented. “They created a new precedent saying you don’t even have to vote on the articles,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. GOP leaders vowed there would be electoral consequences for Democrats over their handling of the matter.

Before the Senate vote, House impeachment managers, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., had presented the impeachment articles to the Senate. The first charged Mayorkas with not complying with federal immigration law, while the second alleged he breached public trust through false statements to Congress.

Mayorkas Focuses on DHS Responsibilities Amid Impeachment Drama

Despite the impeachment drama, Mayorkas has aimed to remain focused on his DHS responsibilities. “As they work on impeachment, I work on advancing the missions of the Department of Homeland Security,” he said. The White House praised the Senate’s rejection of what it called “baseless” attacks on Mayorkas, with spokesperson Ian Sams stating, “President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas will continue doing their jobs to keep America safe and pursue actual solutions at the border.”

The Senate action brings a rapid close to only the second-ever impeachment of a cabinet secretary, following the 1876 impeachment of then-Secretary of War William Belknap. It also marks another chapter in the ongoing partisan clash over the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies.