Two Republicans now oppose impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Sec. away. Alejandro Mayorkas, complicating the House GOP's efforts to pass the two articles.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., followed Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., in announcing he would vote “no” on the resolution to impeach Mayorkas.
“The only way to stop the border invasion is to replace the Biden administration at the ballot box,” McClintock wrote on Bite Republicans.'
McClintock was so anxious not to charge the secretary that he pressed charges 10-page memo to the Republicans in the House of Representatives who are opposing it.
Buck, who will retire after this term, issued a similar warning Monday, saying a “partisan impeachment process” would “blow back and hurt Republicans in the future.”
Given the Republicans' razor-thin majority, it is not yet clear whether the impeachment vote will pass on Tuesday evening. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio has not yet said how he will vote. All Democrats are expected to oppose it.
Still, Whip Tom Emmer said he was “confident” Mayorkas would be charged barring any unexpected absences.
“I'm confident that we can do this if we have our members here,” he said on Fox News Tuesday morning.
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who was previously undecided, said Tuesday morning he would vote for the articles.
“Mayorkas willfully refused to enforce federal immigration laws. It's one thing to disagree with a policy, but it's one thing to disagree with an order [DHS] Failure to follow the law is inexcusable,” he said in a statement.
It's not clear whether the Senate will hold a trial – it could only vote to reject the articles by a simple majority.
Nevertheless, the Republicans have already named their impeachment managers to argue for impeachment before the Senate: Mark Green, Chairman of the Department of Homeland Security, Texas, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Department of State, Texas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia, Ben Cline, Virginia, Michael Guest , Miss., Andy Biggs, Arizona, Andrew Garbarino, NY, August Pfluger, Texas, Harriet Hageman, Wyo., Laurel Lee, Florida.
Buck opposed all impeachment efforts during his time in Congress – he called the movement to impeach President Biden “theater” and twice voted against the impeachment of former President Donald Trump.
“The constitution is clear. “I will vote no on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas,” the congressman continued.
The vote to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas will have a razor-thin lead on Tuesday, while Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado is fighting back
Buck said Mayorkas “completely failed in his job” but “maladministration or incompetence is not a criminal offense for our founders.”
Spokesman Mike Johnson said Friday he would speak with Buck over the weekend, but a source close to Buck told he had not received any calls from Johnson over the weekend.
If the vote passes, Mayorkas would be the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876.
“If Mayorkas were removed from office, President Biden would likely appoint another incompetent person who would implement the same failed approach,” Buck argued.
The articles of impeachment were passed by the Homeland Security Committee last week on partisan political grounds.
If the vote passes, Mayorkas would be the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876
Republicans advanced two articles of impeachment against Biden's border chief Mayorkas – one accusing him of deliberately undermining immigration laws through catch-and-release and another accusing him of obstructing and lying to Congress.
Republicans point to Mayorkas' “deliberate and systematic refusal to obey the law” as hundreds of migrants continue to pour into the US every day.
They claim Mayorkas is guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that amount to “failure to comply with immigration law” and a “breach of public trust.”
The impeachment resolution states: “Alejandro N. Mayorkas willfully and systematically refused to comply with immigration laws, failed to control the border at the expense of national security, endangered public safety, and violated the constitutional rule of law and separation of powers.” , to the obvious detriment of the people of the United States.
All that is required for passage is a majority in the House of Representatives. The Senate would hold a trial and a two-thirds majority is required for conviction, an extremely unlikely outcome in the Democratic-led Senate.