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The House of Representatives voted down an attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday.
Republicans have accused Mayorkas of failing to enforce border laws. The impeachment vote was part of a broader attack on President Joe Biden’s immigration policies ahead of the November election, and a response to an escalating influx of migrants Democratic governors recently called “a humanitarian crisis.”
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If the vote had passed, it would have marked the first time in nearly 150 years a Cabinet official was impeached. However, Republicans failed to garner enough support and the measure failed 214 to 216.
Read live updates on the impeachment vote below:
That's A Wrap On Impeachment Vote Coverage
Republicans are expected to try to impeach Mayorkas again when they have more members available to vote, perhaps as early as Wednesday.
For ongoing coverage until then, visit HuffPost.com.
For ongoing coverage until then, visit HuffPost.com.
Mike Johnson Says He’ll Try For Another Vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson says if he can convince enough Republicans to flip, he’ll try bringing the resolution back up.
Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.), who voted against impeachment, told reporters Republicans are planning to vote Wednesday when Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) is back.
Rep. Ken Buck (Colo.), who voted against impeachment, told reporters Republicans are planning to vote Wednesday when Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) is back.
Read More On House Republicans' Failed Attempt To Impeach Mayorkas
The attempt to impeach Mayorkas failed after a number of Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the vote.
Read more on how the vote went down:
Read more on how the vote went down:
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The Impeachment Resolution Has Been Defeated
House Republicans’ attempt to impeach Mayorkas has failed 214-216. He has narrowly avoided becoming the first Cabinet official since 1876 to be impeached.
The Vote Is Now Tied
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So Far, Three Republican 'No' Votes
So far, three Republicans have voted against impeaching Mayorkas: Mike Gallagher (Wis.), Ken Buck (Colo.) and Tom McClintock (Calif.) If one more Republican votes no, the impeachment effort will go down.
Dave Joyce (Ohio), who was seen as a maybe vote, voted yes.
Dave Joyce (Ohio), who was seen as a maybe vote, voted yes.
Johnson And Key Republicans Assemble
Before moving on to a vote, Johnson and key House Republicans reportedly gathered in a huddle at the back of the chamber.
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Voting Has Started
House Republicans have started voting on the impeachment resolution. Stay tuned for results.
Update: Vote Expected To Begin In Next Half Hour
Debate Ends, Vote To Begin Shortly
The House has ended its impeachment debate, with a vote expected within the 5 p.m. ET hour.
Jamie Raskin Subtly Jabs Marjorie Taylor Greene For Butchering A Basic Word
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) unleashed a whirlwind of criticism against Republicans for trying to impeach Mayorkas. If you weren’t paying attention, you might have missed his jab at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the sponsor of the impeachment resolution, for recently butchering the pronunciation of “indictment.”
“We’re here because the madcap wild goose chase to impeach President Biden has produced no wild geese,” Raskin said, launching into a rapid-fire series of condemnations.
“The Trump-Putin-MAGA faction headed up by the distinguished gentlelady from Georgia has been given this worthless trinket of a consolation prize,” he continued, referring to Greene. “The opportunity to bring a slapstick impeachment trial against a cabinet member of unimpeachable integrity who has obviously committed no treason, no bribery, no high crimes, no misdemeanors, nothing indictable.”
He paused before saying “indictable” again, but pronouncing it all wrong.
“Or even, in-dick-tah-bull, if you prefer,” Raskin said, looking toward Greene and moving on.
Last week, the Georgia Republican went viral for an embarrassing moment, in which she said the Founding Fathers intended for impeachment to be used for dealing with “in-dick-table crimes."
“We’re here because the madcap wild goose chase to impeach President Biden has produced no wild geese,” Raskin said, launching into a rapid-fire series of condemnations.
“The Trump-Putin-MAGA faction headed up by the distinguished gentlelady from Georgia has been given this worthless trinket of a consolation prize,” he continued, referring to Greene. “The opportunity to bring a slapstick impeachment trial against a cabinet member of unimpeachable integrity who has obviously committed no treason, no bribery, no high crimes, no misdemeanors, nothing indictable.”
He paused before saying “indictable” again, but pronouncing it all wrong.
“Or even, in-dick-tah-bull, if you prefer,” Raskin said, looking toward Greene and moving on.
Last week, the Georgia Republican went viral for an embarrassing moment, in which she said the Founding Fathers intended for impeachment to be used for dealing with “in-dick-table crimes."
Dem Rep. Dean Phillips Returns To House To Oppose Mayorkas Impeachment
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) took a break from the presidential campaign trail to return to the House and lend his vote against impeaching Mayorkas.
“I will be voting against this political sideshow and invite my colleagues to place principle over politics, and join in pursuing meaningful immigration reform that will keep our communities safe and economy strong,” he said in a statement.
Every vote counts in the House, where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority and can only afford to lose three GOP votes in their impeachment effort. Two Republicans have already said they’re voting no as others have expressed skepticism.
Phillips’ presence ensures that the GOP has no wiggle room to lose more votes because of potential Democratic absences.
It’s not clear when – or why – Phillips will be heading back to the campaign trail.
“I will be voting against this political sideshow and invite my colleagues to place principle over politics, and join in pursuing meaningful immigration reform that will keep our communities safe and economy strong,” he said in a statement.
Every vote counts in the House, where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority and can only afford to lose three GOP votes in their impeachment effort. Two Republicans have already said they’re voting no as others have expressed skepticism.
Phillips’ presence ensures that the GOP has no wiggle room to lose more votes because of potential Democratic absences.
It’s not clear when – or why – Phillips will be heading back to the campaign trail.
Homeland Security Chairman Laments That GOP Forgot How To Do Its Job
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, lamented that Republicans have “exhausted all other options” before moving to impeach Mayorkas over border issues – apparently forgetting that it is Congress’ job to pass bipartisan legislation to fix problems at the border that concern both parties.
“The actions and decisions of Secretary Mayorkas have left us with no other option than to proceed with articles of impeachment,” Green said sadly.
In reality, House Republicans are moving forward with impeaching Mayorkas because they were told not to make any bipartisan deals on immigration. Donald Trump ordered the GOP not to pass any bipartisan border deals in order to deny President Joe Biden a win ahead of the November presidential election.
“The actions and decisions of Secretary Mayorkas have left us with no other option than to proceed with articles of impeachment,” Green said sadly.
In reality, House Republicans are moving forward with impeaching Mayorkas because they were told not to make any bipartisan deals on immigration. Donald Trump ordered the GOP not to pass any bipartisan border deals in order to deny President Joe Biden a win ahead of the November presidential election.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes All In On Racist Rhetoric
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) fully leaned into racist rhetoric when describing migrants crossing the border.
“Alejandro Mayorkas is guilty of aiding and abetting the complete invasion of our country by criminals, gang members, terrorists, murderers, rapists and over 10 million people from over 160 countries into American communities all across the United States,” she said when she had the floor at the hearing.
She also blamed America’s opioid epidemic on migrants, despite recent data showing that nearly 90% of convicted fentanyl traffickers were U.S. citizens, and just 0.02% of migrants arrested for crossing illegally had any fentanyl on them.
“300 dead Americans every day from fentanyl poisoning is more than just the policy difference,” she said. “It's murder.”
“Alejandro Mayorkas is guilty of aiding and abetting the complete invasion of our country by criminals, gang members, terrorists, murderers, rapists and over 10 million people from over 160 countries into American communities all across the United States,” she said when she had the floor at the hearing.
She also blamed America’s opioid epidemic on migrants, despite recent data showing that nearly 90% of convicted fentanyl traffickers were U.S. citizens, and just 0.02% of migrants arrested for crossing illegally had any fentanyl on them.
“300 dead Americans every day from fentanyl poisoning is more than just the policy difference,” she said. “It's murder.”
Top GOP Congressman Reportedly Calls Mayorkas, Who Is Jewish, A 'Reptile’
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, reportedly referred to Mayorkas as a “reptile” during a private meeting with GOP colleagues earlier Tuesday.
“This reptile has no balls to resign” like Nixon did, Green said, according to Politico reporter Olivia Beavers.
The comment could certainly be read as an anti-semitic slur against Mayorkas, who is Jewish. In its glossary of antisemitic terms, the American Jewish Committee says that creatures like “reptilian men” and other subhuman monsters are often used as a form of coded antisemitism.
Green leads the committee that advanced the two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, and is helping run the House floor debate. His apparent use of an ugly slur against the homeland security secretary comes after his committee used charged language in its report about impeaching Mayorkas. The committee report said it was "deporting" Mayorkas from his job. Mayorkas emigrated to the United States from Cuba when he was one year old.
“This reptile has no balls to resign” like Nixon did, Green said, according to Politico reporter Olivia Beavers.
The comment could certainly be read as an anti-semitic slur against Mayorkas, who is Jewish. In its glossary of antisemitic terms, the American Jewish Committee says that creatures like “reptilian men” and other subhuman monsters are often used as a form of coded antisemitism.
Green leads the committee that advanced the two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, and is helping run the House floor debate. His apparent use of an ugly slur against the homeland security secretary comes after his committee used charged language in its report about impeaching Mayorkas. The committee report said it was "deporting" Mayorkas from his job. Mayorkas emigrated to the United States from Cuba when he was one year old.
Republican Explains Opposition
House Democrat Mocks GOP For ‘Clown Show’ Impeachment Effort
Before the debate even began, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) was on the House floor ridiculing Republican leadership for what they were about to do.
“I would say it’s a clown show,” McGovern said, “but that would be a disservice to actual working clowns.”
The Massachusetts Democrat wondered aloud why and how the GOP is attempting to impeach Mayorkas when it has “presented zero evidence” for doing so, and pointed out that the sponsor of the impeachment resolution is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a far-right conspiracy theorist who is among former President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters.
“A MAGA extremist who amplifies Holocaust deniers, who said 9/11 was a hoax, who says wildfires are started by Jewish space lasers,” he said. “That’s the legislative and intellectual force behind this impeachment resolution.”
He marveled at the prospect of Greene being an impeachment manager on the Senate floor in the event that the Senate moved on to convict Mayorkas, which it won’t.
“God help us!” McGovern said with a weak laugh. “It’s just more proof that this is fraudulent, unconstitutional garbage. But Donald Trump wants another fraudulent impeachment, another distraction from his own legal troubles… So here we are, because he calls the shots around here.”
“I would say it’s a clown show,” McGovern said, “but that would be a disservice to actual working clowns.”
The Massachusetts Democrat wondered aloud why and how the GOP is attempting to impeach Mayorkas when it has “presented zero evidence” for doing so, and pointed out that the sponsor of the impeachment resolution is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a far-right conspiracy theorist who is among former President Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters.
“A MAGA extremist who amplifies Holocaust deniers, who said 9/11 was a hoax, who says wildfires are started by Jewish space lasers,” he said. “That’s the legislative and intellectual force behind this impeachment resolution.”
He marveled at the prospect of Greene being an impeachment manager on the Senate floor in the event that the Senate moved on to convict Mayorkas, which it won’t.
“God help us!” McGovern said with a weak laugh. “It’s just more proof that this is fraudulent, unconstitutional garbage. But Donald Trump wants another fraudulent impeachment, another distraction from his own legal troubles… So here we are, because he calls the shots around here.”
Debate Begins
The House has begun its debate on impeaching Secretary Mayorkas.
Here we go!
Here we go!
House Clears Procedural Hurdle
The vote on agreeing to the rule is done, 219-209.
The Plan May Flop
House Republican leaders may not have the votes to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, hours before they are set to move forward with their stunt.
Read more here.
Read more here.
Border Security A Top Political Issue For 2024
The AP reports:
The impeachment charges against Mayorkas come as border security is fast becoming a top political issue in the 2024 election, a particularly potent line of attack being leveled at President Joe Biden by Republicans, led by the party’s front-runner for the presidential nomination, Donald Trump.
Read more here.
The impeachment charges against Mayorkas come as border security is fast becoming a top political issue in the 2024 election, a particularly potent line of attack being leveled at President Joe Biden by Republicans, led by the party’s front-runner for the presidential nomination, Donald Trump.
Read more here.