The Senate is gearing up to receive articles of impeachment for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from the House of Representatives. Senate Republicans are pressuring their Democrat counterparts, warning them that Democrats may try to use a procedural maneuver to quickly table the trial, effectively killing it. Impeachment managers from the House will physically deliver the articles to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday. Republicans delayed the delivery last week in order to set a trial in motion earlier in the week. With the border crisis becoming a top issue across the country, vulnerable Democrats are facing pressure on how to proceed with a potential impeachment trial against Mayorkas.
Some key Democratic senators, including Sherrod Brown, Jacky Rosen, Tammy Baldwin, and Jon Tester, are being closely watched ahead of any potential motions to table or dismiss the impeachment trial. Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski will play a crucial role in deciding whether to go along with the largely united GOP’s quest for a full trial. Romney questioned whether any high crimes or misdemeanors were committed, suggesting that a policy difference alone may not warrant impeachment. With the Senate split narrowly at 49-51, the decisions of a few key senators will ultimately determine the course of action once they are sworn in.
In an effort to ensure a full trial, some Senate Republicans are planning to potentially halt all legislative business in the upper chamber by objecting to regular proceedings. With unanimous consent typically necessary to keep the Senate moving smoothly, Republicans are preparing to object to uncontested actions that expedite Senate business. Senate Democrat Whip Dick Durbin has urged for the dismissal of the impeachment articles, criticizing Republicans for prioritizing impeachment over finding legislative solutions. He urged fellow senators to quickly dispose of the articles of impeachment, emphasizing the need to move forward and focus on other legislative priorities.
As the delivery of impeachment articles to the Senate approaches, the looming question remains over how Democrats will proceed, especially as Republicans put pressure on vulnerable Democrats in competitive races. It is unclear how senators like Bob Casey, Sherrod Brown, Jacky Rosen, Tammy Baldwin, and Jon Tester will respond to potential motions to table or dismiss the trial. Some Republicans are determined to see a full trial through, while others question the necessity of impeachment based on policy differences alone. The decisions made by key senators in the coming days will shape the course of the impeachment trial against Mayorkas and set the tone for the Senate’s legislative priorities moving forward.
