The Senate on Wednesday declared both articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas unconstitutional in two separate party-line votes. These articles accused Mayorkas of neglecting his duties at the southern border and breaching public trust.
The first article claimed that Mayorkas had “willfully and systematically refused to comply with the law” regarding the southern border during his tenure as DHS Secretary. The second article alleged that he had violated public trust.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., proposed a point of order to deem the first article unconstitutional. Following Schumer’s proposal, the Senate voted 51-48 to declare it unconstitutional, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voting present.
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Schumer’s point of order was introduced after his request for unanimous consent, which would have set a specific time for debate among senators and votes on two GOP resolutions and a set number of agreed-upon points of order, was denied by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. Schmitt argued that the Senate should conduct a comprehensive trial into the impeachment articles against Mayorkas, rather than following Schumer’s proposed plan, which would likely result in the dismissal of the articles.
Republican senators opposed Schumer’s point of order, as agreeing to it would effectively nullify the first article. Several GOP lawmakers made motions, including requests to adjourn or table the point of order, but all were unsuccessful.
“This process must not be abused. It must not be short-circuited. History will not judge this moment well,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as he motioned to table Schumer’s point of order.
After further motions to avoid voting on Schumer’s second point of order, which would declare the second article unconstitutional, the Senate agreed to it in a 51-49 vote, with Murkowski rejoining the Republicans.
Article generated from corporate media reports.