In a historic and razor-thin vote, the House of Representatives approved the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, by a vote of 214 to 213.
This unprecedented action makes Mayorkas the first Cabinet member to be impeached in nearly a century and a half, and the first Cabinet minister to ever face impeachment.
The impeachment resolution, known as H. Res. 863, Secretary Mayorkas is charged with high crimes and misdemeanors. The allegations in the resolution include a “deliberate and systematic refusal to comply with the law” regarding enforcement of U.S. border policy, and a “violation of the public trust,” setting a dramatic stage in the House of Representatives.
The vote comes on the heels of last week's report from The Gateway Pundit, which notes that last Tuesday's impeachment effort resulted in a tie, in part because of three RINOs, Tom McClintock (California), Ken Buck (Colorado), and Mike Gallagher (Wisconsin). ). ), and stand with the Democrats.
However, this week's outcome was influenced by the return of Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who cast the deciding vote in favor of impeachment.
Despite the successful impeachment vote in the House of Representatives, the three GOP lawmakers – McClintock, Buck, and Gallagher – stood their ground and voted against the proposal.
Joe Biden has strongly opposed the impeachment proceedings, condemning them as an act of “unconstitutional partisanship.”
Biden issued the following statement:
History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatantly unconstitutional partisan actions targeting an honest public servant for the sake of playing petty political games.
Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States with his family as political refugees, has spent more than two decades serving America with integrity in a decorated career in law enforcement and public service.
From his time at the Department of Justice as United States Attorney to his service as Deputy Secretary and now Secretary of Homeland Security, he has faithfully upheld the rule of law and demonstrated a deep commitment to the values that make our nation great.
Impeachment has already failed once on a bipartisan vote. Instead of making political stunts like this, Republicans with real concerns about the border should want Congress to provide more border resources and strengthen border security.
It is unfortunate that the same Republicans who are pushing this baseless accusation are rejecting the bipartisan plans of Secretary Mayorkas and others in my administration to strengthen border security at this very moment – in contrast to years of their own demands to pass stronger border bills.
Abandoning real solutions when they are needed most for the sake of politics is not what the American people expect from their leaders. Congress must act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my Administration the tools and resources necessary to address the situation at the border.
The House also needs to pass the Senate National Security Supplement immediately. We will continue to seek real solutions to the challenges Americans face, and House Republicans must decide whether to join us to solve the problem or continue to play politics on the border.
