Eight House Republicans voted to side with Democrats, rejecting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) attempt to begin the impeachment process of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Reps. Tom McClintock (R-CA), John Duarte (R-CA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ken Buck (R-CO), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Mike Turner (R-OH), and Cliff Bentz (R-OR) voted against the impeachment of Mayoraks. The final vote was 209-201, with these eight Republicans saving Mayoraks from an impeachment proceeding.
Twenty-four members, both Democrat and Republican, chose not to vote.
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. pic.twitter.com/lnNa1dhb40
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) November 14, 2023
Last week, Greene moved to force a vote in the House to try to begin the impeachment process. Green has accused DHS Secretary Mayorkas of “willful admittance of border crossers”, as well as of violating the Secure Fence Act, a 2006 law. If Greene’s resolution had passed, the impeachment process would have been expedited.
Many House Republicans have also voiced their displeasure with Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border. Last year, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) also expressed his intent to impeach the Homeland Security secretary.
Republicans have accused Mayorkas and the Biden administration of adopting “open border” policies.
According to The Hill, Greene has already slammed the eight Republicans who sided with Democrats in the vote. “I cannot believe this,” she said. “I’m outraged. I can assure you that Republican voters will be extremely angry that they’ve done this.”
Greene also hinted to reporters that she may reintroduce the resolution and force another vote.
Though many House Republicans are angry over Mayorkas’ handling of the southern border, some do not agree with Greene’s resolution to expedite impeachment proceedings. Some House Republicans instead want to take their time with impeachment. They do not want to rush these proceedings.
Historical precedent has also cautioned some Republicans in the House. Only one Cabinet member in U.S. history has ever been impeached. William Belknap, former President Grant’s secretary of war, was impeached by the House over corruption charges. However, he resigned before the Senate could also impeach him.
Earlier this year, Mayorkas defended himself against accusations that Greene and other House Republicans have attributed to him, especially where it concerns the Secure Fence Act.
“The Secure Fence Act, specifically the statute, defines operational control as not having one individual cross the border illegally,” he said. “Under that statutory definition, no administration has achieved operational control.”
