The Republican-led House Rules Committee added articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to its work docket for Monday, teeing up a likely House vote next week.
Saturday’s addition of the articles to the panel’s hearing signals that House Speaker Mike Johnson is staying firm in his plan to “expeditiously” hold an impeachment vote soon.
Earlier in the week, the House Homeland Security Committee advanced two articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas after a marathon hearing.
Impeachment requires a majority vote in the House to advance to the Senate. Then it takes two-thirds of senators to convict and remove an official.
The move to impeach Mr. Mayorkas stems from accusations that he has ignored federal immigration laws, causing a flood of illegal crossings at the U.S./Mexico border.
Should Republicans succeed in impeaching the DHS secretary, he would be the second Cabinet official going through the process in U.S. history. The first was War Secretary William Belknap in 1876 when he was acquitted by the Senate after his resignation.
Already, cracks appear in the GOP push.
Rep. Ken Buck, Colorado Republican, on Thursday said he’s a “solid no” to impeach.
Mr. Buck argued that while the southern border is in shambles, Mr. Mayorkas’ involvement isn’t an impeachable offense. The lawmaker similarly decried the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, then voted in favor of it.
He’s not alone in the Mayorkas stand. Rep. Tom McClintock, California Republican, warned last year that efforts to oust the secretary would redefine impeachment and weaponize it for Democrats.
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