Second time in U.S. history: Secretary of Homeland Security is impeached
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (flickr.com/dhsgov)
The United States House of Representatives voted with an incredibly narrow margin to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas - the first Cabinet secretary to face impeachment in nearly 150 years, according to CNN and the White House press service.
This development unfolded as Republicans faced mounting pressure from their base demanding accountability for President Joe Biden and his departments and agencies over immigration and border security policies.
Republicans allege that Mayorkas committed serious crimes and transgressions in connection with his actions at the southern border, although several constitutional experts have argued that the evidence does not meet this high threshold.
Tuesday's vote passed with a tally of 214 against 213. Three Republicans - Ken Buck from Colorado, Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin, and Tom McClintock from California - voted alongside Democrats against the measure.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security asserted that Republicans will be remembered in history for trampling the Constitution following the impeachment vote.
"House Republicans will be remembered by history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain rather than working to solve the serious challenges at our border," said DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg in a statement.
Biden's response
President Joe Biden remarked that history would not favor House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional bias.
"This impeachment already failed once on a bipartisan vote. Instead of staging political stunts like this, Republicans with genuine concerns about the border should want Congress to deliver more border resources and stronger border security," the American leader said.
He emphasized that Republicans pushing this baseless impeachment are rejecting bipartisan plans proposed by Mayorkas and other administration officials to strengthen border security at a crucial moment - departing from years-long demands to enact stronger border legislation.
"Congress needs to act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my administration the tools and resources needed to address the situation at the border. The House also needs to pass the Senate’s national security supplemental right away," Biden urged.
He added that his team will continue "pursuing real solutions to the challenges Americans face, and House Republicans have to decide whether to join us to solve the problem or keep playing politics with the border."
In U.S. history, only one Cabinet official has faced impeachment: Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876.
