WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The House will delay sending impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate. Republicans had planned on starting the process Wednesday but are now pushing it to next week.
Senate Republicans want more time to make a public argument for a full trial since Democrats are expected to quickly dismiss it.
“Chuck Schumer is playing politics with this,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Senate Republicans are up in arms that Democrats are likely to dismiss an impeachment trial against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“This is unconscionable, people,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)
That’s why Louisiana Senator John Kennedy and many others asked House Speaker Mike Johnson to delay bringing the case to the Senate until next week.
“Maybe talking about it for a few days before we take the Constitution and turn it upside down just might be a wise thing to do,” said Kennedy.
The delay will also give Republicans more time to build support among themselves for a full trial.
“We have some free-range chickens, and they wander off and sometimes we can’t catch them,” Kennedy added.
House Republicans voted to impeach Mayorkas two months ago over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.
But the Senate’s top Democrat Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) argues their charges do not rise to the level of impeachment.
“Impeachment should never be used to settle policy disagreements,” said Schumer.
Schumer would not publicly commit though to dismissing the trial.
“We’re gonna try and resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” he said.
Even if the Senate holds a trial, Republicans need two-thirds of the chamber to vote to convict Mayorkas. That won’t happen since no Democrat has signaled support for this.
