With nothing to impeach President Biden for, MAGA Republicans have moved on, for the moment, to a baseless impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House Republicans have held months of hearings and investigations but have not been able to find a single shred of wrongdoing by Secretary Mayorkas. Despite this, Marjorie Taylor Greene is expected to bring an impeachment resolution to the House floor today for the second time.
Trying to impeach Secretary Mayorkas is just another attempt to distract from the failures of the House GOP and help the implementation of Donald Trump’s extreme, xenophobic immigration plan. Secretary Mayorkas has protected the American people as Homeland Security Secretary and Republicans are endangering national security by focusing on political stunts rather than fixing our immigration system. Don’t just take it from us; the media and some Republicans have slammed this bogus impeachment.
Criticism from Republicans:
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): “I am sick and tired of weak-kneed politicians who say one thing on the campaign trail and then refuse to take action once they take the oath of office […] ‘No more strongly worded letters. No more sham committee hearings.’” [Axios, 11/14/23]
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO): “Secretary Mayorkas did not commit an impeachable offense. Despite my strong disagreement with his handling of our southern border, which puts this country at grave risk, he is not guilty of high crimes or misdemeanors.” [Ken Buck, X, 11/14/23]
Rep. John Duarte (R-CA): “We cannot afford to be distracted by every impeachment and censure motion introduced by Marjorie Taylor Greene.” [John Duarte, X, 11/14/23]
Eight House Republicans Voted Against Marjorie Taylor Greene’s First Attempt To Impeach Secretary Mayorkas. “The eight Republicans who joined Democrats in the 209-201 vote killing the effort included Reps. Ken Buck, R-Colo., Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Tom McClintock, R-Calif., Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., John Duarte, R-Calif., Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio. Additionally, 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans did not vote on the measure.” [Fox News, 11/14/23]
Criticism from media:
Axios: “Several of the GOP lawmakers made the case that the panel should complete its investigation into Mayorkas before the House votes. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said Mayorkas is guilty of ‘maladministration, malfeasance, and neglect of duties,’ but argued: ‘These are not impeachable offenses.‘ What we’re hearing: Asked if he plans to stick by his vote against impeaching Mayorkas, Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told Axios: ‘Yes.'” [Axios, 11/29/23]
Fox News: “‘Secretary Mayorkas has not committed an impeachable offense,‘ Rep. Buck told CNN on Monday night. ‘I disagree strongly with how he’s handling the border, I think the border is porous, I think it’s a threat to this country, but it’s not a high crime or misdemeanor, it’s not treason, it’s not bribery, it’s not the crimes or issues our founders set forth in the Constitution.'” [Fox News, 11/14/23]
The Washington Post: “Republican investigations into Mayorkas, however, have failed to produce enough evidence to merit an official impeachment process.” [The Washington Post, 11/9/23]
The New York Times: “Some mainstream Republicans have long expressed reservations about impeaching Mr. Mayorkas over what amounts to policy differences without a finding of actual wrongdoing.” [The New York Times, 11/13/23]
Axios: “Greene’s decision to force a vote on impeaching Mayorkas forced vulnerable Republicans to take a politically risky vote on an impeachment many still view as half-baked.” [Axios, 11/14/23]
Greg Sargent (Washington Post): “By this deranged logic, Marjorie Taylor Greene would have impeached Trump as well. Greene says ‘catch and release’ is impeachable. But Trump released a lot of migrants as well, because there is no real alternative.” [Greg Sargent, X, 11/9/23]
MSNBC: “No one has formally presented credible evidence of the cabinet secretary having committed any high crimes. The idea that lawmakers would proceed with an impeachment vote anyway — making Mayorkas the first cabinet secretary in 147 years to face such a rebuke — is difficult to take seriously.” [11/14/23]