Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he supports a full impeachment trial of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis.
“I think that’s the best way to move forward,” McConnell told reporters after the weekly Senate Republican leadership news conference.
Republican Sen. John Thune, the top Republican behind Mr. McConnell, is also calling for a full impeachment trial, while a growing number of Republicans say Democrats are trying to abbreviate the trial.
“The House of Representatives has determined that Secretary Mayorkas committed an impeachable offense. This matter will now be considered by the United States Senate. I believe the Senate needs to conduct a trial,” Thune announced.
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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left), Democrat of New York. and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky. (Saul Loeb)
“I intend to argue that there should be a trial in the United States Senate to determine whether these are impeachable offenses, and I am confident that Democrats will try to dismiss that.” he stated. he continued.
Senate conservatives are pressuring Republican leaders to move forward with the trial, as it is unclear whether the Democratic-controlled Senate will move forward with the House’s provisions.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) is one of the lawmakers pushing for a full trial. “We definitely need to have a real trial and get to the real facts of what’s going on here,” he told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
“So if he thinks he’s done a great job, come and explain. But what they want to do is short-circuit this issue,” he said.
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Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), center, speaks during a press conference with members of the House Freedom Caucus at the U.S. Capitol on November 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Last week, Scott, along with nearly a dozen Senate Republicans, signed a letter led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) urging McConnell to “ensure that the Senate conducts a proper trial and that Republicans and Democrats We call on all senators, regardless of age, to rule on this matter.” The Senate is back. ”
“According to multiple staff accounts, Majority Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats intend to omit the articles of impeachment by simply tallying both separately,” Lee wrote. “This is an action rarely considered in our nation’s history and never taken by the United States Senate.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York did not say Tuesday whether a trial would be scheduled. After the House voted to impeach Mayorkas earlier this month, Schumer vowed the trial would move forward this week. With a partial government shutdown looming, that seems unlikely at this point.
House votes to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas over border crisis
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to face an impeachment vote in the House. (Getty Images)
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“Look, as I said, the impeachment of Mr. Mayorkas is absurd. There is not one drop of evidence that would lead to any kind of impeachment charge. We are going to deal with it in the best way possible,” Schumer said. he told reporters. on tuesday.
Dissatisfaction is also growing among the 11 people. House impeachment managers In the case of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, when will he submit his paper to the Senate?
House managers act as “prosecutors” and argue before impeachment charges. senate.
One impeachment manager told Fox that “no clear guidance has been given” about what role impeachment will play or when the House will send articles of impeachment to the Senate.
FOX News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
