A House Republican has filed articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, following through with a promise several GOP lawmakers made before taking control of the lower chamber earlier this month.
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) introduced the articles of impeachment in the House on Monday, accusing Mayorkas of committing high crimes and misdemeanors. The articles have been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further action.
GOP leaders such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) have long vowed to open impeachment inquiries into the DHS secretary, targeting him for his handling of the southern border. The House Judiciary Committee notified Mayorkas late last year it would seek his testimony early into the next Congress, as well as the testimony of 10 other DHS officials.
Before being sworn into the 118th Congress last week, Fallon vowed to introduce impeachment articles against Mayorkas for allegedly undermining law enforcement activities at the southern border.
“Secretary Mayorkas has violated the law and his implemented policies that undermine law enforcement activities at our southern border,” Fallon said in a statement. “From perjuring himself before Congress about maintaining operational control of the border to the infamous ‘whipgate’ slander against our border patrol agents, Secretary Mayorkas has proven time and time again that he is unfit to lead the Department of Homeland Security. His willful actions erode our immigration system, undermine border patrol morale, and imperil American national security. He must be removed from office.”
It’s not clear what crimes Fallon is specifically accusing Mayorkas of conducting because there is no text available for the articles of impeachment.
If House Republicans manage to impeach Mayorkas, it’s unlikely he would be convicted in the Democratic-led Senate.
The Washington Examiner contacted the DHS for comment.