WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today on Capitol Hill, senators were sworn in as jurors as the impeachment trial of Alejandro Mayorkas began just after 1:00 p.m.
The historic impeachment trial for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary wrapped up just before 4:30 p.m. after two party-line votes declared both articles brought against Mayorkas, unconstitutional.
The articles of impeachment, delivered to the Senate by the House impeachment managers Tuesday, charged Mayorkas with “willfully and systemically” refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and having “breached the public trust” by making false statements to Congress.
Two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, would have been necessary to convict and remove Mayorkas from office. It was a tall task for Republicans since the start, given the 51-seat majority for Senate Democrats.
Throughout the afternoon, Senate Republicans raised several procedural motions in an effort to delay the trial. Democrats quickly squashed those efforts and killed both articles against Mayorkas with a simple majority vote.
Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman voted with their fellow Democrats throughout the afternoon. Senator Casey called the effort a “partisan exercise.”
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY) called the Republican-led impeachment “absurd” and baseless from the start. They say impeachment should never be used to settle policy disputes.
After the trial concluded Wednesday afternoon, Senate Republicans raised concerns over the precedent that will result from today’s decision. They accused Democrats of not conducting a full trial with proper evidence.
