Biden's top border official and the first Latino to manage the Homeland Security Department, Mayorkas, became the House's second Cabinet secretary and the first since 1876 to be impeached.
After a disastrous first attempt to impeach him failed on the House floor, Republicans succeeded on Feb. 13 with a single vote, 214-213, with three Republicans and all Democrats voting no.
Biden rips Trump on everything but his trial in Pennsylvania. In their two articles, House Republicans charged Mayorkas with “high crimes and misdemeanors” for failing to enforce immigration and border security laws, resulting in “millions” of undocumented immigrants illegally entering the U.S. each year, and for knowingly lying to Congress.
Mayorkas spoke before the House Homeland Security Committee Tuesday, saying he is focused on his job and answering questions on the impeachment.
I guess I've worked in public service 22 years. I've taken the oath five or six times. I have kept my pledge and followed the law throughout "said.
Mayorkas' Democratic allies have called the GOP's impeachment a politically driven “sham” started months before the presidential election and contended that Republicans' criticism of the DHS secretary is policy differences.
Conservatives and others have opposed impeaching Mayorkas as inappropriate. Trump ally Sen. Kevin Cramer branded it “the worst, dumbest exercise and use of time.” Johnson appointed 11 House impeachment managers, prosecutors who are prominent Republicans and conservative hardliners.
The other managers are Homeland panel vice chair Michael Guest of Mississippi, Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul of Texas, who was Homeland chairman; Reps. Andrew Garbarino of New York, August Pfluger of Texas, and Laurel Lee of Florida; and four conservative Freedom Caucus members: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Ben Cline of Virginia, and Harriet Hageman of Wyoming.
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