President Joe Biden put out a statement Tuesday defending Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas after the House Republicans’ impeachment on Capitol Hill, making him the first White House cabinet official to be impeached by Congress since 1876.
“History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games,” the statement from the president sternly warned.
“This impeachment already failed once on a bipartisan vote,” the statement continued, accusing Republicans of not taking the border crisis seriously. “Instead of staging political stunts like this, Republicans with genuine concerns about the border should want Congress to deliver more border resources and stronger border security.”
“Sadly, the same Republicans pushing this baseless impeachment are rejecting bipartisan plans Secretary Mayorkas and others in my administration have worked hard on to strengthen border security at this very moment — reversing from years of their own demands to pass stronger border bills,” Biden said.
The articles of impeachment against Mayorkas stated, “His refusal to obey the law is not only an offense against the separation of powers in the Constitution of the United States, it also threatens our national security and has had a dire impact on communities across the country.”
Yesterday, after a year long investigation led by the @HomelandGOP under the leadership of Chairman @RepMarkGreen, we executed our constitutional duty of impeaching Secretary Mayorkas.
Impeachment is just one step.
The Senate MUST pass House Republicans’ Secure the Border Act,… pic.twitter.com/OoHgMkAA18
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) February 14, 2024
“The House Homeland Security Committee has taken a careful and methodical approach to this investigation and the results are clear: from his first day in office, Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and consistently refused to comply with federal immigration laws, fueling the worst border catastrophe in American history,” said House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA).
“He has undermined public trust through multiple false statements to Congress, obstructed lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, and violated his oath of office,” Johnson added.
Biden maintains that he is ready to move on the border, but blames Republicans in Congress for not being willing to work with him, “Giving up on real solutions [ … ] is not what the American people expect from their leaders. Congress needs to act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my administration the tools and resources needed to address the situation at the border.”
Last night Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached. It’s good politics – it’s a reminder he and Biden do have authority to close the border. And it’s also a reminder that if you treat impeachment casually – say, impeach Trump twice without alleging actual…
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 14, 2024