3 Republicans Vote Against Impeaching DHS Secretary Mayorkas
Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., Ken Buck, R-Colo., and Tom McClintock, R-Calif., bucked their party to side with Democrats
Republicans Defy Party to Oppose Impeachment
Three Republican lawmakers voted against impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Tuesday night as the House of Representatives successfully impeached the border chief over his mishandling of the illegal immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., Ken Buck, R-Colo., and Tom McClintock, R-Calif., bucked their party to side with Democrats in opposing Mayorkas' impeachment.
This is the first time a Cabinet secretary has been impeached by the U.S. Congress since 1876.
Republicans Assert Criticisms but Oppose Impeachment
House Republicans have accused Mayorkas of ignoring existing immigration law and worsening the situation at the Southern Border.
The three Republicans who voted against impeachment on Tuesday have criticized Mayorkas' handling of the border but expressed reservations over whether it rose to the level of impeachment. McClintock warned it could set a precedent for political impeachments that could harm Republican officials in the future.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pushed back on concerns about precedent when speaking to reporters hours before the vote on Tuesday.
DHS Criticizes Second Impeachment Vote
Two impeachment articles were approved against Mayorkas by the House Homeland Security Committee: one alleging he "refused to comply with Federal immigration laws" and the other alleging he violated "public trust."
The Department of Homeland Security criticized House Republicans for holding a second Mayorkas impeachment vote on Tuesday, pointing to comments by GOP lawmakers who have called the effort a waste of time.
A DHS spokesperson said 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."
