WASHINGTON — A push from some House Republicans to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over U.S.-Mexico border security could divide the caucus as it wrangles with a narrow majority next year.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy went to the border last week and vowed to investigate whether to begin an impeachment inquiry against Mayorkas if he does not resign, citing historically high border crossings that have strained government resources. Mayorkas has promised to stay in his post.
But while House Republicans are united in opposition to the Biden administration’s border policies, not everyone is persuaded that a Mayorkas impeachment is the right path. And Republicans’ slim majority in the 118th Congress means opposition from even a handful of members could frustrate impeachment efforts.
Rep. Don Bacon, who was recently reelected to his competitive Nebraska seat, is among several Republicans who are not yet sold on an effort to impeach Mayorkas.
“The base gets fired up for that, but you don’t get swing voters or moderate voters on that,” Bacon said. “I would say there’s not a consensus for impeachment, but I do think our job is to do oversight. It’s one of our jobs. It’s not the only job, but there’s gonna be oversight – and I think it’s deserved.”
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the expected chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who would play a key role in any impeachment proceedings, immediately lent his support to the plan.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee’s immigration subpanel, has harshly criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to undo stringent Trump-era policies, including a partial rollback of pandemic border expulsions under Title 42 and a halt in border wall construction.
But he also seemed less than eager to begin impeachment proceedings.
“Show me treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, and I’ll consider impeachment. I’ve not seen that,” McClintock said. “I’ve seen the worst administration of that department in its history, in fact, in the history of the country. But I’ve not seen an offense that the Constitution recognizes as impeachment.”
During his press conference in El Paso, Texas, McCarthy said Mayorkas “cannot and must not” remain in his position, promising that “every order, every action and every failure” would help House Republicans decide whether to begin impeachment.
McCarthy, who had downplayed the possibility of impeachments by a Republican-controlled House ahead of the election, made the comments as he faces a turbulent road to the House speakership amid skepticism from right-wing members of the caucus.
A resolution to impeach Mayorkas for high crimes and misdemeanors related to actions at the border has 32 co-sponsors. It was originally introduced in 2021 by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who challenged McCarthy for the speakership in a November House Republican Conference vote.
While some lawmakers have been calling for Mayorkas’ impeachment since 2021, McCarthy’s remarks at the border last week were his first indication of support for the plan.
Impeachment plans
The dynamic in the early months of the 118th Congress could echo what Democrats faced when they retook the majority in 2019, with lawmakers divided over how aggressively to pursue oversight efforts of the Trump administration.
Some Democrats wanted impeachment proceedings immediately, while others fretted that too much focus on oversight could…
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