Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have expressed their reactions following the Democratic-controlled Senate's decision to dismiss both articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
House GOP leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, criticized the Democrats for endorsing what they referred to as the Biden Administration's 'dangerous open border policies' through the vote. They accused Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden of contributing to a significant humanitarian and national security crisis at the borders, using various tools at their disposal.
Vulnerable Democratic Sen. Jon Tester from Montana emphasized the need for practical solutions to secure the border, denouncing what he called partisan games played by politicians in Washington, D.C. Tester urged President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to utilize their remaining executive powers to enhance border security. He also called on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation aimed at providing law enforcement with the necessary resources and policy changes to effectively address border challenges.
Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the Senate Republicans' campaign arm, issued a warning to vulnerable Senate Democrats regarding their votes in the impeachment trial. Daines suggested that the GOP would leverage these votes against them in future political campaigns. He indicated that voters in key states would likely continue to hear about this issue, implying potential repercussions for those who supported the dismissal of the impeachment articles against Mayorkas.
