House Republicans successfully impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, prompting President Joe Biden to accuse them of playing “petty political games.”
The vote, with a narrow margin of 214 to 213, marked the first cabinet official impeachment since 1876.
“Secretary Mayorkas’s willful refusal to enforce federal law created an unprecedented crisis at our southern border and left innocent Americans to pay the price,” Majority Whip Tom Emmer said. “Because Mayorkas failed to do the honorable thing by resigning, House Republicans fulfilled our Constitutional duty by voting to impeach.”
Biden defended Mayorkas, highlighting his immigrant background and decades of service, while criticizing House Republicans for “blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship.”
Despite the House vote, the U.S. Senate is likely to fail to convict Mayorkas.
“History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship,” Biden said.
“Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States with his family as political refugees, has spent more than two decades serving America with integrity in a decorated career in law enforcement and public service,” he said.
“From his time in the Justice Department as a U.S. Attorney to his service as Deputy Secretary and now Secretary of Homeland Security, he has upheld the rule of law faithfully and has demonstrated a deep commitment to the values that make our nation great.”
Biden urged Congress to provide the necessary tools and resources to address border challenges, emphasizing the need for real solutions over political games.
“Congress needs to act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my administration the tools and resources needed to address the situation at the border,” Biden said. “The House also needs to pass the Senate’s national security supplemental right away. We 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.”
NEW >> @POTUS on Mayorkas:
“History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games”
“This impeachment already failed once on a bipartisan vote” pic.twitter.com/hyBBbhp9Hs
— Ian Sams (@IanSams46) February 14, 2024
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