The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives has decided to delay the transmission of impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Democratic-majority Senate until next week, according to a House spokesperson on Tuesday.
The House faced challenges in February, requiring two attempts before successfully impeaching Mayorkas with a narrow 214-213 vote.
Former President Donald Trump has heavily criticized President Joe Biden‘s handling of border security, particularly amidst a surge in immigrant arrivals at the southern border with Mexico.
Mayorkas faces accusations from the House of failing to enforce U.S. immigration laws and providing false statements to Congress, allegations he denies.
In a statement, Taylor Haulsee, a spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson, announced the decision to postpone sending the impeachment articles until the following week to ensure the Senate has ample time to fulfill its constitutional obligations.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer affirmed the Senate’s readiness to proceed with the impeachment trial expeditiously despite potential procedural maneuvers by Republicans.
While some senators anticipate Schumer orchestrating a quick dismissal or similar procedural action, Republican Senator Ted Cruz criticized such moves as undermining the Senate’s responsibility to try impeachments.
In 2021, Cruz and 44 other Senate Republicans supported allowing votes on dismissing Trump’s second impeachment, highlighting ongoing partisan tensions over impeachment proceedings.
The Mayorkas impeachment follows unsuccessful House attempts to impeach Biden due to insufficient evidence, with Democrats viewing these efforts as retaliatory for Trump’s prior impeachments by the Democratic-led House, which both resulted in acquittal by the Senate.
