The Senate has decided that the first impeachment charge against DHS Secretary Mayorkas is not allowed because it does not involve a serious crime or wrongdoing.
Here is what happened:
The Senate has rejected Article 1 of Mayorkas impeachment, finding it unconstitutional because it’s not a high crime or misdemeanor.
(Now moving to same on Article 2.)
Notably, 1 Republican — Murkowski — voted “present.” So not bipartisan, but not all Republicans voted…
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) April 17, 2024
The vote was 51-46, with Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voting present.
This was a historic vote by the Senate, as it has never before declared an impeachment charge as unconstitutional. Senate Republicans attempted to move the impeachment discussion behind closed doors and then postpone the trial for two weeks.
Senate Republicans are alleging that Mayorkas broke the law by lying to Congress, but there is no proof that Mayorkas did so.
House Republicans sent impeachment charges to the Senate that did not involve a serious crime or wrongdoing, so the Senate majority is rejecting them as invalid. Senate Republicans argue that they are concerned about setting a precedent, but House Republicans already did so by sending such weak impeachment charges to the Senate in the first place.
House Republicans are being thoroughly embarrassed as the Senate majority is not accepting their misuse of the impeachment process.
