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Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday wrote to Senator Chuck Schumer, the bulk chief, demanding that the Senate maintain an impeachment trial subsequent month of Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland safety secretary. The speaker referred to as plans to shortly dismiss the fees towards Mr. Mayorkas “a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American folks.”
In a letter signed by the 11 Republicans he named as impeachment managers to attempt Mr. Mayorkas, Mr. Johnson wrote that they deliberate to ship over the fees on April 10, after the Senate returns from its Easter break. Senators in each events, who function the jury for impeachment trials, have indicated that they don’t wish to sit via such a continuing within the case of Mr. Mayorkas, however House Republicans’ insistence on it.
The letter rehashed the accusations towards the homeland safety secretary, with signatories together with Representatives Mark E. Green of Tennessee, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who launched articles of impeachment towards Mr. Mayorkas. The Republicans condemned what they referred to as a “willful and systemic refusal to adjust to the regulation and his breach of the general public belief,” accused the secretary of mendacity to Congress, and blamed him for the state of the southern border with Mexico.
There is little doubt that the Senate, which is managed by Democrats, will facet with Mr. Mayorkas. Leaders are anticipated to dispense with a trial shortly, both by dismissing the fees instantly or transferring to a fast vote wherein Republicans haven’t any probability of securing the two-thirds essential to convict and take away Mr. Mayorkas.
Mr. Schumer has referred to as the impeachment effort a “sham” and “one other embarrassment for House Republicans.”
“House Republicans failed to provide any proof that Secretary Mayorkas has dedicated any crime,” he stated in an announcement Thursday. “House Republicans failed to indicate he has violated the Constitution. House Republicans did not current any proof of something resembling an impeachable offense. This is a brand new low for House Republicans.”
House Republicans impeached Mr. Mayorkas in February by a single vote, racing forward with a case that constitutional students referred to as groundless earlier than Democrats gained a particular election on Long Island and wiped away the bulk assist to approve the fees. But as a substitute of shortly sending the articles over to the Senate to attempt to pressure out one of many officers they blame for chaos at America’s southern border, Republicans have sat on them.
G.O.P. lawmakers are hoping to construct public stress for a full trial, which might generate media protection of their accusations towards President Biden’s high immigration official. That might give them a high-profile platform for one among their largest election-year assaults on the president and Democrats — a transparent political boon even when Mr. Mayorkas is finally acquitted.
“We name upon you to satisfy your constitutional obligation to carry this trial,” the letter said. “The American folks demand a safe border, an finish to this disaster, and accountability for these accountable. To desk articles of impeachment with out ever listening to a single argument or reviewing a chunk of proof can be a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American folks whom all of us serve.”
While some Senate Republicans, resembling Senator Mike Lee of Utah, have demanded a trial, others have been much less enthusiastic in regards to the impeachment effort, arguing the ground time can be higher used on much less partisan issues.
Mia Ehrenberg, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, stated the Republicans’ impeachment effort “might be remembered by historical past for trampling on the Constitution for political acquire somewhat than working to resolve the intense challenges at our border.”
“Without a shred of proof or professional constitutional grounds, and regardless of bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a devoted public servant who has spent greater than 20 years implementing our legal guidelines and serving our nation,” Ms. Ehrenberg stated.
