The US Senate has opted to terminate impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas, thereby avoiding a trial in the chamber.
This marked the first instance in nearly 150 years, and only the second time in US history, that the Senate had deliberated on the impeachment of a cabinet secretary.
Had two-thirds of the chamber supported it, Mr. Mayorkas would have faced removal from office.
He stood accused of failing to uphold immigration law.
Additionally, the US House of Representatives had charged Mr. Mayorkas with violating “the public trust” by allegedly making false statements during congressional testimony.
In votes largely divided along party lines on Wednesday, senators dismissed the two impeachment articles brought by the House two months earlier.
The Department of Homeland Security expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
A statement from the agency indicated that the dismissal vote “clearly demonstrates that there was insufficient evidence or constitutional grounds to warrant impeachment”.
Senate Votes to Dismiss Impeachment Charges Against Mayorkas
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed a process wherein Republicans would be granted the opportunity to deliver speeches and propose procedural motions before Democrats proceeded with a vote to dismiss the charges against Mayorkas.
However, when Republicans insisted on a full trial to examine the merits of the case, Schumer, a Democrat from New York, opted to push for a vote that effectively dismissed the first impeachment charge.
“We provided your side with a chance,” Schumer stated. “Your side objected. We are moving forward.”
Despite several attempts by Republicans to delay the vote, which were thwarted by the 51 Democrats in the chamber, the process culminated in all Democrats voting to dismiss the first impeachment charge.
Except for Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski abstaining, all 49 Republicans objected.
The same procedure was repeated for the second impeachment charge, with Murkowski joining her Republican colleagues in their objection.
Ultimately, the chamber voted 51-49 to formally end the impeachment trial proceedings, less than four hours after all 100 senators took the oath to serve as jurors.
Republicans had aimed to utilize the impeachment trial as a platform to highlight what they perceived as shortcomings in the Biden administration’s immigration policy, particularly concerning the surge of undocumented migrants crossing the US-Mexico border in recent years.
Expressing dismay at Schumer’s swift move to end the Senate’s role in the impeachment process within hours, Republicans criticized the departure from tradition and raised concerns about setting an unfavorable precedent for future impeachment proceedings.
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican, voiced his sentiments on social media, stating, “If the Senate held a full impeachment trial, the Border crisis evidence would gut the Biden administration like a fish.”
He criticized Schumer for not allowing the House to present its case, regardless of the potential implications for the Senate.
Former US President Donald Trump faced impeachment twice during his presidency, both times by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. On both occasions, he was acquitted by the Senate following full trials.
Immigration Policy: Senate’s Impeachment Trial Drama
Senate Republicans had previously attempted to dismiss charges against Mr. Trump before his first impeachment trial, employing the same tactic used by Mr. Schumer on Wednesday. However, their efforts proved futile.
Democrats, on the other hand, criticized the Republican-controlled House for impeaching Mr. Mayorkas in February by a narrow margin, alleging an abuse of the impeachment process.
“This impeachment trial is the least legitimate, substantive, and most politicized in U.S. history,” remarked Mr. Schumer.
He further emphasized that impeachment should not be utilized to resolve policy disagreements.
Immigration ranks among the top concerns for American voters leading up to the upcoming presidential and congressional elections, according to public opinion polls.
Earlier this year, Senate Democrats and Republicans had negotiated a compromise immigration reform package aimed at bolstering border security and overhauling immigration laws.
However, the initiative collapsed after facing opposition from Mr. Trump and conservative Republicans, who argued that the proposed legislation fell short and was merely a ploy by Democrats to mitigate the issue as a campaign tactic.
Republicans are likely to seize upon the Democrats’ decision to forego a full impeachment trial as evidence of their reluctance to address immigration concerns.
This stance could become a focal point on the campaign trail, particularly against Democratic senators seeking re-election in states with more conservative leanings.
