In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. House failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, despite the efforts of four Republican representatives who voted against impeachment. The Republicans who opposed the impeachment were Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Ken Buck (R-Colo.), and House Vice Conference Chairman Blake Moore (R-Utah), who is a member of the Republican leadership.
However, Moore’s vote against impeachment deserves further examination. It turns out that he actually supports impeaching Mayorkas, but he voted no in order to keep the Republican impeachment effort alive for another day. This strategic move highlights the GOP’s determination to pursue Mayorkas’ impeachment in the future.
The Republican miscalculation became apparent when they realized they did not have enough votes to secure Mayorkas’ impeachment. With a breakdown of 219 Republicans to 212 Democrats in the 431-member House, the Republicans can only afford to lose three votes. Moreover, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has been absent from voting due to cancer treatments. As a result, when the Mayorkas impeachment vote ended in a tie of 215-215, the impeachment effort was defeated, as a tie vote loses in the House.
This defeat did not deter the Republicans, as House rules allow any member on the prevailing side of a roll call vote to demand a re-vote. Moore, who was originally in favor of impeachment, changed his vote to no, placing himself on the “winning” side and preserving the option for future impeachment votes. This strategic maneuver by Moore allows the Republican leadership to maintain the impeachment investigation, committee report, and other documents, giving them more credibility when presenting the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a potential trial.
While it is still uncertain when the next impeachment vote will be held, Republicans are hopeful that the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and the potential win of Republican nominee Mazi Melesa Pilip in the upcoming special election on Long Island will provide them with additional support for their impeachment efforts. However, the unpredictable nature of having over 400 members in the same room at the same time, with their various commitments and obligations, adds an element of uncertainty to future proceedings.
Despite the defeat, the Republican Party remains determined, as impeachment resolutions are considered “privileged” and can be reintroduced immediately. By preserving the impeachment gambit, the GOP demonstrates their commitment to holding Mayorkas accountable for his actions. Additionally, this move allows the party to maintain a strong position and credibility when presenting the impeachment articles to the Senate.
While it is rare for a key member like Moore to change their vote to potentially order a re-vote in the House, this tactic is more commonly seen in the Senate. Nevertheless, Moore’s efforts have preserved the Republican impeachment effort, keeping the pressure on Mayorkas and ensuring that the issue remains in the spotlight.
In conclusion, the House’s failure to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has not deterred the Republican Party. Their strategic maneuvering, led by House Vice Conference Chairman Blake Moore, has preserved the option for future impeachment votes and ensured the credibility of their impeachment articles. With the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and the potential addition of more Republican representatives, the GOP remains determined to hold Mayorkas accountable for his actions. The battle is far from over, and the outcome of future impeachment votes will shape the political landscape.
