While the Senate waits for the House to introduce articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, several Democratic senators told FOX News Digital that they should be removed from office immediately and that a full trial will not take place. He expressed his hope that there would be no.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told Fox News Digital that his Democratic colleagues will move to submit the article once it is formally delivered to the Senate and members are sworn in as jurors. He said he was “definitely” deaf.
“This is completely political,” he said. “They never showed any evidence of any impeachable offense and yet they impeached him in the House anyway. It’s ridiculous.”
At a House Republican retreat this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said, “We haven’t sent it yet. The very simple answer to that and why is that we haven’t. That’s because it’s happening.” It is in the process of funding the government through the spending process. ”
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on April 19, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Reuters/Sarah Silbiger)
He noted that the Senate only had to act on the article in a short period of time, saying, “We didn’t want to disrupt Senate floor time or debate on appropriations because we risked shutting down the government.” Ta. . ”
Those will be delivered “in due course,” Johnson said.
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Last month, the House narrowly succeeded in its second attempt to impeach Mayorkas. By a vote of 214-213, two articles of impeachment against the DHS Secretary were approved. One accused him of “refusing to comply with federal immigration law” and the other accused him of violating “public trust.”
Rep. Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin. Ken Buck, Republican, Colorado. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) voted against impeachment.
An initial attempt to pass this provision was thwarted by four Republican defectors, one of whom was a procedural move by Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), which allowed the resolution to pass. was able to return to the floor.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said articles of impeachment would be filed “in due course.” (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“I expect it will be rejected” by the Democratic caucus, Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff told Fox News Digital.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, similarly said he wanted a “quick removal.”
Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware also urged the Senate to pass the article of impeachment, saying, “Let’s turn the page and move on and address the issues and challenges that we face.” He said both were “nonsense.” and “shameful conduct.”
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Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on August 6, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Anna Rose Leyden/Getty Images)
Democrats hold a majority in the Senate and will ultimately decide how the organization moves forward once the articles are submitted. And the Senate could choose to impeach, since it only requires a simple majority to move.
Republican counterparts expressed hope that Democrats would move to introduce the article.
“Democrats will try to raise this issue,” Republican Party Leader John Thune, RS.D., said, adding that the conference “will do everything we can to get the trial done.”
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Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-Virginia, said she had heard “rumors” that Democrats were interested in introducing the bill. “We do not anticipate a full trial at this time,” she said. “But I think you should.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Va.) speaks at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee markup of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 on May 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
For many Democratic senators, that’s not a concern at all. The Senate is specifically addressing several issues, including federal nominations. Aid to Ukraine and Israel. Amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization. The final deadline for the funding bill is March 22nd.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said he had “virtually never given any thought to the political travesty surrounding Secretary Mayorkas, so it just wasn’t on my radar screen.” ”, explaining the “serious issues” surrounding China and China. Ukraine is in the lead.
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“Who gives the s?” said Sen. John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania. He added that Mayorkas’ impeachment would not be the last “stupid thing” done by House Republicans.
“Who gives the s?” Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, said of Mr. Mayorkas’ impeachment efforts. (Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
However, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat of Nevada, and Sen. Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, emphasized the importance of their status as jurors in the DHS secretary’s impeachment case.
“As an impartial juror in all of the above, I am always the same with any kind of impeachment, without predetermining or biasing what will happen,” Cortez Masto said.
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Mr. Cardin reiterated, “I have always been a juror and should not speak publicly about it.” But the senator said he had “pretty strong views,” adding that reporters could probably guess that.
DHS did not comment to Fox News Digital about the Senate’s proceedings on the articles of impeachment.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to face an impeachment vote in the House. (Getty Images)
After last month’s House vote, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement: “House Republicans have made history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain rather than working to solve serious challenges at the border. It will remain in place,” he said.
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“Without a shred of evidence or sound constitutional basis, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans unfairly smeared a dedicated public servant who has served our country enforcing our laws for more than 20 years. ” she continued.
Although several Senate Republicans have criticized the House’s attempt to impeach Mayorkas, many Republicans have changed their tune and expressed interest in holding a full Senate trial.
Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
