In a recent development, the House Homeland Security Committee Chair, Mark Green, has announced plans to vote again on the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security. The initial vote ended in a tie, preventing the impeachment from moving forward. However, Green is confident that with the return of Steve Scalise, they will have enough votes to proceed with the impeachment.
One unexpected turn of events during the first vote was the last-minute arrival of Congressman Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, who ultimately tied the vote and made it impossible to impeach Mayorkas. Green's presence was a surprise to many, and it hindered the efforts to remove the Secretary from his position.
During the proceedings, Congressman Green was seen having a conversation with Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, who was initially a no vote but appeared to be a potential swing vote. Their discussion reportedly revolved around the issue of Chinese nationals crossing the southern border. Green pointed out the alarming number of Chinese nationals entering the country illegally and expressed concerns about national security. However, Gallagher remained steadfast in his decision to vote against the impeachment.
When questioned about his attempt to sway Gallagher's vote, Green acknowledged their friendship and shared his plan to have another conversation with him in the future. Despite their differing views on the impeachment, their friendship remains intact.
Gallagher's opposition to the impeachment was based on the argument that it could set a precedent for future impeachments of cabinet secretaries from both parties. He believed that if a Republican cabinet secretary were to violate the laws and principles of the government, he would support their impeachment as well.
Responding to the concern that even if Mayorkas is impeached, it would ultimately be the responsibility of President Biden to decide whether or not to remove him from his position, Green emphasized his duty as a congressman. He believes it is his responsibility to carry out the impeachment process, regardless of the potential outcome in the Senate.
Regarding criticisms of House Speaker Johnson's handling of the situation, Green dismissed any notion of poor leadership, highlighting that unexpected events and surprises are not uncommon in such proceedings. He commended the speaker for successfully flipping a vote to revive the impeachment process and saw it as a smart move.
The upcoming vote will determine whether Mayorkas will be impeached. While the outcome may be uncertain, Green remains determined to carry out his duty, citing the Secretary's failure to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to him by law as the driving force behind the impeachment effort. The subsequent actions of the Senate, however, will be beyond Green's control.
