The United States Senate dismissed the impeachment charges against Cuban-American Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security.
The decision, made on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 17, by a Democratic majority, puts an end to an initiative promoted by the Republican Party in the House of Representatives.
According to the news agency APthe Democratic Party argued that the articles presented were unconstitutional.
The first of these articles accused Mayorkas of a “deliberate and systemic refusal to comply with immigration law,” while the second claimed that he committed a “breach of trust” by ensuring that the US border was secure.
The vote to reject the process ended with 51 votes in favor and 48 against. The aforementioned media stressed that Lisa Murkowski, Republican senator from Alaska, only responded “present” when casting her vote.
Chuck Schumer, Democratic majority leader, had already anticipated this outcome, arguing that the accusatory articles presented against Mayorkas did not meet the standards for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that, if continued, it would have set a dangerous precedent for future cases. of political trials.
“For the sake of the integrity of the Senate and to protect impeachment for the rare cases where we really need it, senators should dismiss today’s accusations,” he said as he opened the session in the Upper House on Wednesday.
While the House of Representatives managed to impeach Mayorkas for his handling of the border situation, the outright dismissal of the impeachment represents a defeat for the Republican Party, especially House Speaker Mike Johnson, who established the process as a priority.
Although the trial will not take place, the fact that it was even considered could have political resonance in this presidential election year, especially since border security has been one of the most discussed major issues.
For now, Republicans continue to criticize President Joe Biden’s management on the immigration issue, arguing that it has been weak and has allowed a crisis to develop on the country’s southern border.
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