Washington [US], February 8: The US House of Representatives voted against a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings on Democratic Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday.
Although Republicans have a slim majority in the House of Representatives, they were unable to push through their proposal. The result was close, with 214 votes in favour and 216 against. The Republican chairman of the chamber, Mike Johnson, had previously expressed optimism that the motion would pass. Immediately after the vote, Johnson's spokesman announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he would bring the motion for impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas to a vote again as soon as the necessary majority was secured.
Mayorkas is an enemy of many Republicans. They accused the Cuban-born minister of wilfully and systematically refusing to comply with the law. They accuse their rival Democrats of having lost control of migration over the US's southern border.
Republicans accused the 64-year-old of knowingly making false statements and put his political preferences above compliance with the law. The Democrats, on the other hand, accuse the Republicans of a politically motivated manoeuvre.
If impeachment proceedings were to take place, it would be the first against a member of the US Cabinet in almost 150 years. However, impeachment proceedings in the election year would draw further attention to the issue of migration and border security. Biden, who, like his likely Republican challenger Donald Trump, wants to run again in the election, is coming under increasing pressure on the issue.
Source: Qatar Tribune
