Some Republicans are holding onto hope of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after a failed vote on Tuesday evening.
While appearing on Fox Business Network's Mornings with Maria on Wednesday, Republican Representative Claudia Tenney of New York spoke about issues with the U.S.-Mexico border and recent attempts to remove Mayorkas from his position.
"This is directly caused by Joe Biden, his executive actions and also the administrative actions under the leadership and lack of leadership of Secretary Mayorkas, which is why so many Republicans voted to impeach him, all but three really yesterday," Tenney said. "And I think when [House Majority Leader] Steve Scalise comes back, we will impeach him."
Newsweek reached out to Scalise via email for comment.
The context:
On Tuesday, efforts to impeach Mayorkas failed in the GOP-led House of Representatives in a 214-216 vote.
The four Republicans who sided with Democrats to vote against the impeachment efforts were Colorado's Ken Buck, Wisconsin's Mike Gallagher, California's Tom McClintock and Utah's Blake Moore.
Republicans have sought to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border and a continued increase of illegal migrants coming into the nation.
"In large part because of his unlawful conduct, millions of aliens have illegally entered the United States on an annual basis with many unlawfully remaining in the United States," the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas said.
What we know:
Scalise has been absent from Congress as he undergoes treatment for cancer. He has previously been vocal in his criticism of Mayorkas, saying last month that the Homeland Security secretary "can secure the border today and he has chosen not to."
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made similar comments to Tenney on social media, hoping that the House will be able to impeach Mayorkas when Scalise returns to Congress.
"Blake Moore changed his vote no when asked by leadership for procedural reasons to make a motion to reconsider so that we can vote on impeachment again next week. We look forward to Leader Steve Scalise returning to vote yes and officially impeaching Secretary Mayorkas," Greene wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Views:
Ian Sams, a White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, criticized Republicans' failed efforts to impeach Mayorkas, saying on X that "it was embarrassing."
"It is even more embarrassing for House Republicans that they are trying to ram through a baseless impeachment that even conservative lawyers and scholars say is completely unconstitutional," Sams said.
What's next:
When Scalise returns to Congress, House Republicans will be able to afford to lose three GOP votes on impeachment proceedings if they bring a vote again.
Republican Representative Andy Biggs said on X that "Mayorkas will not get off scot-free."
"He will be held accountable and pay for the irreversible damage to our nation. We will have the votes very soon," Biggs wrote. "We can also (and should) better utilize Congress' purse powers to strip his salary and defund his initiatives."
Update 2/7/24, 8:07 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and to reflect that Newsweek reached out to Scalise for comment.
Update 2/7/24, 8:59 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
