WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Top Senate Republicans are calling for a full impeachment trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The House returned to Washington on Wednesday, just two weeks after voting to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for violating federal law and not enforcing immigration policy.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) says House impeachment managers will soon take a walk across the Capitol, the next step in the impeachment process.
“We will have a signing ceremony and we will be delivering the articles of impeachment to the Senate,” Greene said.
When that happens, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) says he wants to see the Senate put Mayorkas on trial.
“People need to be held accountable,” Thune said. “And I think this is the way to do that.”
House Republicans impeached Mayorkas for “willfully and systematically” refusing to enforce immigration laws at the southern border.
Thune says it is now up to the Senate to determine if those offenses are impeachable.
“This is such a miscarriage of the law, and it is important that the United States senators sit and hear, and the American people hear about this incredible crisis at our southern border,” Thune said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) agrees.
“I think that would be the best way to go forward,” McConnell said.
Senate Democrats say they plan to reject the articles by taking a vote to dismiss the trial, which only needs a simple majority to pass.
“The impeachment of Mayorkas is absurd,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. “There’s not one drop of evidence that leads to any kind of charge of impeachment and we’re going to handle it in the best way possible.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) says denying a trial would be a disservice.
“If this chamber upholds its constitutional duty, I will vote to convict him,” Blackburn said.
House managers are expected to bring the articles to the Senate as early as next week.
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