Senate braces for clash on Mayorkas impeachment charges

The Senate is gearing up for a clash over the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Democrats are likely to push for a swift dismissal of the articles, while Republicans are adamant about having a complete trial.

On Tuesday, the House delivered the impeachment articles to the Senate. Senators are anticipated to be sworn in as jurors on Wednesday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not yet detailed his plan for the trial procedure. However, both Democratic and some Republican senators have hinted at the possibility of the Senate dismissing the case before a full trial. Democrats could opt to dismiss or set aside the articles with a simple majority vote, possibly as soon as Wednesday.

In any case, it is highly unlikely that the Senate would vote to convict, as this would necessitate a two-thirds majority vote - a very difficult threshold to reach.

What's next?

Senate Republicans are currently trying to make a deal with Democrats on a time agreement. This agreement would let them have discussions on the Senate floor and give GOP senators the chance to vote on procedural motions. If they can't agree on a time agreement, it's uncertain how long the process will last. Republicans might try different procedural delays, but eventually the presiding officer could decide to stop those efforts if they seem unnecessary.

Mayorkas made history by becoming the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years. House Republicans decided to impeach him in February for his management of the southern border, narrowly passing the vote after an initial failed attempt.

Democrats criticized the impeachment as a mere political tactic, arguing that Republicans lacked a legitimate reason for their actions. They emphasized that policy disagreements should not be grounds for resorting to the rarely utilized constitutional impeachment of a Cabinet official.

Schumer emphasized the need to address the issue quickly during his floor remarks on Tuesday. He expressed his belief that impeachment should not be used to resolve policy disagreements. He also raised concerns about the precedent that would be set if Congress were to engage in impeachment trials for every policy disagreement, calling it an abuse of the process and causing unnecessary chaos.

Many Republicans oppose quick dismissal

A number of congressional Republicans, however, have criticized the prospect of a quick dismissal or move to table.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized the importance of the Senate's responsibility in considering the impeachment articles. He described it as a "rare" and "solemn" duty that should not be taken lightly. McConnell stated that he is committed to giving the charges his full and undivided attention and will oppose any attempt to delay or dismiss the articles.

The Kentucky Republican emphasized the importance of giving the charges in the impeachment trial thorough consideration, stating that it would be beneath the Senate's dignity to ignore this responsibility. He expressed his opposition to any attempt to table the articles of impeachment and avoid addressing the Biden administration's border crisis directly.

Furthermore, there are some hard-right Republican senators who are attempting to push for a full trial. However, it is not anticipated that their efforts will gain enough support to be successful, as indicated by senators and aides from both parties.

Keep an eye on important senators

When it comes to a vote in the Senate on dismissal, it might not just be a simple party line decision. Some Republicans have shown they could be willing to consider it, especially if there is a chance for discussion before the vote.

Democrats facing difficult reelection campaigns may feel pressure regarding their vote on whether to dismiss or table the articles.

One such Democrat is Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who is up for reelection. He has stated that he plans to vote to dismiss the articles, referring to it as a "partisan exercise."

Casey believes that there should not be a trial in the Senate. He thinks it's time to focus on working together to create a bipartisan border security deal. According to him, hiring more border patrol agents and increasing staff at ICE is crucial for enforcing border security. He feels that the current partisan exercise is not the right approach and considers it a waste of time, but acknowledges the necessity to go through it.

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, who is also up for reelection, did not confirm whether he would support a motion to dismiss when questioned by CNN on Tuesday before the articles were sent to the Senate. He mentioned that he had not read the articles yet and still needed to do so.

Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, will be in charge of the proceedings.

Mayorkas facing scrutiny

As soon as Republicans gained control of the House, they began targeting Mayorkas. They blamed the high number of border crossings on the Homeland Security secretary, as their party felt pressure from its base to challenge the Biden administration on a crucial campaign issue.

Several constitutional experts have stated that the evidence presented by Republicans is not sufficient to meet the high standard of high crimes and misdemeanors outlined in the US Constitution.

Despite facing criticism, Mayorkas has defended his leadership, with the Department of Homeland Security dismissing the impeachment as a groundless political assault.

The White House has tried to change the narrative by pointing out that Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border deal, showing that the party may not be fully committed to border security.

Earlier this year, after months of discussions, Senate Republicans rejected a significant bipartisan border agreement. This deal would have brought about a significant shift in immigration policy and granted the president extensive authority to limit illegal migrant entries at the southern border.

The deal faced a torrent of attacks from former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.

CNN’s Manu Raju contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The impending impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has ignited a fierce debate in the Senate. Democrats, eager to dismiss the articles as a political ploy, are pushing for a swift resolution. Republicans, on the other hand, are adamant about a full trial, arguing that the charges warrant a thorough examination. The outcome of the trial hangs in the balance, with the likelihood of conviction being slim due to the high threshold required.

The division within the Republican party is evident, with some senators open to considering dismissal if allowed the opportunity for discussion. However, hard-right members are pushing for a full trial, despite the lack of support for their efforts. Democrats facing reelection may also face pressure to dismiss the articles, highlighting the potential for a departure from strict party lines. The proceedings will be overseen by Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray, a Democrat, adding further intrigue to the trial's outcome.