The U.S. Senate swiftly disposed of the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, despite efforts by Texas’ senators and other Republicans to push for a full Senate trial for Mayorkas.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer adjourned the trial with a simple majority vote after 51 Democrats voted to dismiss the charges brought by the House, deeming them unconstitutional. With Democrats holding the majority in the Senate, the outcome was largely expected, as a two-thirds majority is required in the upper chamber to convict.
Nevertheless, several Republicans pushed for a trial in the Senate to air their grievances against Mayorkas, warning that Democrats were setting a dangerous precedent by refusing to conduct an impeachment trial.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas criticized the majority leader's decision, stating, “The only way to actually resolve this question is to debate it, to consider the Constitution and to consider the law.”
Mayorkas was impeached by the House on a party-line vote in February, with accusations that he failed to enforce border laws and lied to Congress about the administration's control of the border. He became the first cabinet secretary to be impeached in 150 years, a move condemned by Democrats as a partisan attack.
Despite efforts by House impeachment managers to present the articles of impeachment to the Senate, Schumer proposed trial rules that would allow only one hour of debate per article. However, objections from Republicans, including Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, derailed Schumer's proposal, leading to a motion to declare the articles unconstitutional.
Republicans expressed outrage at the decision, with Sen. John Cornyn of Texas warning of the precedent it sets for future impeachments.
After the Senate adjourned, Cruz remained in the chamber to criticize Democrats for not allowing a full trial. He highlighted concerns about the Biden administration's border policies and tied the impeachment of Mayorkas to humanitarian crises at the border, accusing Senate Democrats of neglecting the issue.
In response to the Senate's actions, Mayorkas maintained his focus on his duties at the Department of Homeland Security, avoiding involvement in the impeachment drama.