Now that House GOP managers have delivered the articles, senators will be sworn in soon. They will decide whether to have a full trial for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of immigration policy.
The articles of impeachment accuse Mayorkas of not following the law and breaching public trust. But many Senate Democrats don’t want a full trial, thinking the accusations are baseless and political.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to handle the articles quickly, but he hasn’t said exactly how. Some Republicans are angry about this and want a full trial. However, if all Democrats stick together, they can dismiss the articles without a trial.
But some Democrats, like Sen. Jon Tester, haven’t decided yet. Republicans might try to delay things with procedural moves, but it’s unclear what will happen in the end. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opposes dismissing the articles and wants a full trial.
If Democrats decide to dismiss the articles without a trial, Republicans might try to slow down the process with procedural tricks. For example, they could demand debates and votes on different aspects of the trial.
Some senators have suggested sending the trial to a committee for further review. This could be a way to compromise if Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on how to proceed.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell strongly opposes dismissing the articles without a trial. He believes it’s the Senate’s duty to take the matter seriously and give it full attention.
In the end, it’s unclear how the Senate will handle Mayorkas’ impeachment. Both Democrats and Republicans have strong opinions on the matter, and it may take some time before a decision is reached.
