Forty-three Senate Republicans, led by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have signed a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. The letter demands a trial on the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, which are set to be presented to the Senate by House managers in the coming week.
It is worth noting that six Republicans chose not to sign the letter. This includes some individuals who have expressed doubts about whether the House has presented convincing evidence that Mayorkas has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as outlined in the Constitution. They have also acknowledged that Mayorkas has been instrumental in implementing President Biden’s border policies.
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) did not sign the letter either, although the reason for their abstention remains unclear.
Cassidy stated this week that he will not back a motion to immediately table the impeachment charges and believes that a Senate hearing should take place.
The Senate has been reminded in a letter to Schumer of its constitutional obligation to address the House of Representatives’ impeachment of Mayorkas. It highlights the historical precedent of the Senate conducting trials when presented with articles of impeachment from the House.
According to a group of senators, the House of Representatives has impeached a total of twenty-one individuals since 1797. In all but one case, trials were conducted to address the charges. The exception occurred when a judge who had been impeached chose to resign from office before the trial could begin.
Encounters of migrants at the southern border have seen a significant increase of 440 percent from fiscal 2020 to 2023, encompassing the first three years of President Biden’s administration.
They pointed out several issues attributed to the arrival of migrants and the insufficient allocation of law enforcement resources to effectively secure the border. These issues include the smuggling of fentanyl, the inadequate provision of housing and shelter for migrants within American communities, a surge in gang violence, and notable instances of migrants assaulting police officers.
The House of Representatives has accused Alejandro Mayorkas of demeaning his office in light of the ongoing crisis at our southern border and in communities throughout the country. Those who made the accusation believe that the American people should have the opportunity to hear the evidence presented during a Senate trial in an impeachment court.
The Department of Homeland Security strongly resisted the impeachment, stating that it was carried out “without any evidence or valid constitutional grounds.”
