The plan to send the House's articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate this week has been postponed by Speaker Mike Johnson. This delay comes after Republican senators asked for more time to gather support for a full trial.
The sudden change of plans brings uncertainty to the historic first impeachment of a Cabinet secretary in around 150 years. House Republicans impeached Mayorkas in February over the Biden administration's handling of the southern border, but held off sending the articles while finishing work on government funding legislation.
Johnson was originally set to transmit the impeachment charges to the Senate on Wednesday evening. However, Senate Republicans requested the delay until next week as it became evident that Democrats, who hold majority control of the chamber, had the votes to swiftly dismiss them. This postponement is seen as a tactic to prolong the process.
Despite Republican opposition to quickly dismissing the charges, most Senate Republicans did just that when former President Donald Trump was impeached a second time for inciting an insurrection in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. He was ultimately acquitted.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican Senate leader, stated, “Our members want to have an opportunity not only to debate but also to have some votes on issues they want to raise.” According to procedural rules, senators must convene as jurors the day after the articles of impeachment are sent for a trial.
Johnson's spokesman, Taylor Haulsee, announced the delay and stated, “There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who has criticized the impeachment push as a “sham,” suggested Democrats still plan to handle the charges quickly.
Schumer mentioned, “We’re ready to go whenever they are. We are sticking with our plan. We’re going to move this as expeditiously as possible.”
Earlier on Tuesday, he told reporters, “Impeachment should never be used to settle policy disagreements.”
In the impeachment articles, House Republicans accused Mayorkas of not only failing to enforce existing law but also of deceiving Congress and claiming the border was secure.
Democrats, along with a few Republicans, argue that the charges are a policy dispute, not meeting the Constitution's bar of high crimes and misdemeanors.
