President Joe Biden’s secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, survived an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening.
In a narrow vote of 214-216, the lower chamber rejected two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas for “Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply With the Law” and “Breach of the Public Trust.” Three Republicans — Colorado’s Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher, and California Rep. Tom McClintock — joined Democrats to block the impeachment resolution. House Republicans had reportedly expected just two defections — from Buck and McClintock — but lost a third in Gallagher’s “no” vote at the last minute.
Buck, who announced in November he would not seek reelection this fall, said he was a “solid” no on the impeachment proceedings last week. The New York Post reported in September that the outgoing Colorado congressman is in talks for a television gig with CNN.
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, switched his vote to “no” seconds before the vote finished to allow lawmakers to reconsider the measure next week. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., wrote on X that she expects the articles to ultimately pass after the 214-216 failure.
FYSA: Impeachment vote on Mayorkas will be brought back to the floor next week. Moore voted no so that it could be reconsidered next week. It’s a procedural maneuver so it’ll pass next week (pending votes).
— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) February 6, 2024
Republicans argue Mayorkas deliberately violated his oath to secure the homeland with
