House concludes Mayorkas impeachment hearings, next steps considered

The House⁤ Homeland Security Committee Holds Final Impeachment ​Hearing for‍ Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

The House‍ Homeland ⁢Security Committee convened its second and final impeachment hearing for Homeland Security Secretary ​Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday, with lawmakers aiming ‌to proceed with an impeachment resolution⁤ as early as this month.

The four-hour ⁢hearing follows last week’s initial impeachment proceeding,​ where the committee presented the findings of⁢ its yearlong investigation into Mayorkas, the top border official. This meeting ⁣marks the conclusion of Mayorkas’s impeachment ⁣proceedings, coinciding with the committee’s plans to draft an impeachment resolution later this month, according to a source‌ familiar with the situation.

Witnesses and Absence of Mayorkas

During Thursday’s hearing, lawmakers heard testimonies ‍from⁣ three witnesses. Tammy Nobles, whose daughter was tragically killed in 2022 by a suspected undocumented minor with ties to the MS-13 gang,⁣ shared her heartbreaking ‍story. The other witnesses were Deborah Pearlstein, director of the law and public policy program at Princeton University, and private citizen Josephine Dunn.

Originally, the committee intended to hear testimony from Mayorkas himself. However, due to scheduling conflicts, the Biden ⁢administration official declined ​to attend. Mayorkas had a prior commitment to address the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington on Thursday afternoon.

Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-TX) accused Mayorkas of refusing to‌ appear before the panel, alleging that he has been evading requests since late last summer. The Department​ of Homeland Security countered these claims,⁢ stating that the committee has failed to find a mutually agreeable date.

Tense Exchange and Minority Hearing Request

Mayorkas’s absence became a focal point during‍ the hearing, leading to a ‍heated exchange between Republicans and Democrats on the committee. Ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) submitted a request for Democrats to hold their own hearing with their chosen witnesses.

Thompson ⁣emphasized that Mayorkas has been willing to appear before the committee and‍ has made numerous visits to Capitol Hill since taking office. He demanded a minority day ‌hearing on the subject.

Committee Chairman Green disagreed with the request, citing House​ rules that only require the majority party to​ allow minority ⁢witnesses, rather than dedicating an entire hearing to their defense. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) countered, arguing ‍that past impeachment hearings ⁣have allowed​ the minority ⁤party to have their own hearing and present their own witnesses.

Green sidestepped the request, acknowledging a disagreement on the interpretation of whether the minority ⁣is entitled to their own hearing. ‌He expressed willingness ‌to discuss the matter further with Thompson.

Impeachment Resolution Timeline

While a specific date⁣ for considering the impeachment resolution has not been announced, an internal memo obtained by the ​Hill indicates that lawmakers have scheduled ⁣a markup on January⁤ 31. Rep. Michael⁣ McCaul (R-TX), a committee member, confirmed this⁣ timeline to reporters.

If the markup proceeds as planned,⁣ the impeachment resolution could be put to a vote as early as next month. However, the‍ exact timeline for the proceedings remains uncertain.

Political Divide and ⁣Border Security Focus

Democrats have criticized the impeachment efforts, accusing ‍their Republican counterparts of using it as a political attack based on policy differences.

House conservatives have been pushing for Mayorkas’s removal⁣ from the ⁢Department⁤ of Homeland Security for months, with some members introducing their own articles of impeachment last year. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)⁣ has been particularly vocal in advocating for impeachment, even forcing a vote on his removal. Although the effort failed due to insufficient Republican support, Greene pledged‍ to continue introducing⁤ impeachment articles until action is taken. However, she later backed off after‌ receiving assurances from House leaders ​about moving ⁤forward with ​impeachment proceedings.

The latest⁢ hearing aligns with House Republicans’ increasing focus on border security in recent weeks, a significant issue for voters leading⁢ up to ‍the 2024 election. GOP lawmakers have been urging Mayorkas’s removal, citing the ⁣record-high border crossings since he assumed his position in the Biden administration⁢ in 2021.

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What steps will be⁣ taken if the​ resolution passes the House and moves on to the Senate

Ajority ‍should allow a⁢ minority hearing.⁢ He stated that the​ committee will review the request and make a decision at a‍ later date.

Impeachment Resolution and ​Future Proceedings

The House Homeland ⁣Security Committee is expected to move forward with drafting an ​impeachment resolution against Mayorkas after the conclusion of the hearing. The resolution would‍ then be presented to the⁤ full House of Representatives, where a majority vote is needed to impeach the secretary.

If the resolution passes the House, the case ​would then move to the Senate for a​ trial. A two-thirds​ majority vote in favor⁢ of⁤ impeachment​ would be required in the Senate to remove Mayorkas ⁣from⁢ office.

It remains to be seen‌ how the impeachment proceedings will unfold, as⁢ the​ Biden administration ​has consistently defended Mayorkas and expressed ⁤their confidence in his leadership. President Biden has praised Mayorkas for his⁣ work on immigration policies and his efforts to address the border crisis.

Conclusion

The ​House Homeland Security Committee held its final impeachment hearing for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, bringing an end​ to the proceedings against him. Despite ⁤Mayorkas’s absence, the committee heard testimonies from three‍ witnesses and engaged in a tense exchange ⁤regarding a minority hearing request.

The committee now plans to draft an impeachment resolution that will be presented to the ‍full House of Representatives. ⁣If the ⁣resolution passes, the case ‌will then proceed to the‍ Senate for further proceedings.‍ The outcome of this impeachment‍ process will ultimately determine the future of Secretary Mayorkas’s tenure in office.

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