Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday made his last attempt to persuade Democrats against quickly derailing impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, warning it would be a dangerous precedent.
“Never before has the Senate agreed to a motion to table articles of impeachment. Not for an officer or either party. Not once,” the Kentucky Republican said in remarks on the Senate floor. “It would be beneath the Senate’s dignity to shrug off our clear responsibility and fail to give the charges we’ll hear today the thorough consideration they deserve.”
House impeachment managers were scheduled to march the articles over to the Senate in the afternoon. The charges accuse Mr. Mayorkas of being derelict in his duty with illegal immigration and lying to Congress about the crisis.
The White House and Democrats say the matter is a policy dispute and doesn’t amount to high crimes and misdemeanors for impeachment.
They also note that Senate Republicans forced a vote to dismiss former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment in 2021 prior to a trial, a move which all but five GOP senators voted for.
Senate Democrats could vote to table or dismiss the articles as soon as Wednesday without holding a full trial.
“It’s a responsibility to be taken seriously,” Mr. McConnell said. “As I said the last time the Senate convened as a court of impeachment, it’s a power Congress must not exercise frivolously.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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