How will the US Secretary of Homeland Security be impeached?

House of Representatives impeached

After the House passes two articles of impeachment and brings charges against Mr. Mayorkas as part of its oversight and investigative responsibilities, they will move to the Senate.

The day after President Johnson was impeached, in February 1868, articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate by Representative Thaddeus Stevens, a Pennsylvania Republican. Stevens was so ill that he had to be carried into the Capitol.

Once the articles are transmitted, the Senate, acting as the Supreme Court of Impeachment, will schedule a trial in which senators will review evidence, hear witnesses and ultimately vote to acquit or convict. They can also vote to dismiss the charges.

Senate Trial

The House speaker names impeachment managers, who will be tasked with arguing the case against the impeached official and serving as the prosecution team in the Senate trial.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the US House of Representatives on charges of having lax policies that encouraged illegal immigration - Photo: CNN

In Mayorkas' case, there will be 11 impeachment managers. This group includes Representative Mark Green of Tennessee, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee who brought the charges, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a Republican who led the effort to remove Mr. Mayorkas.

The group also includes congressmen Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ben Cline of Virginia, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Andrew Garbarino of New York, Michael Guest of Mississippi, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida, and Michael McCaul and August Pfluger, both from Texas.

The Biden administration will have the right to send a representative or attorney to appear to answer the articles of impeachment against Mr. Mayorkas. That includes appointing House Democrats to serve on the defense team.

Sketch of the US Senate trial of former President Andrew Johnson in 1868 - Photo: New York Times

In the trial, senators will serve as jurors to decide Mr. Mayorkas. For many, this will be their third impeachment trial, following two consecutive impeachment trials of former President Donald Trump, in 2020 and 2021.

Finally, senators will vote on the charges. They can agree to dismiss the articles or reach a verdict.

Verdict

If the trial proceeds without the charges being dismissed, a two-thirds majority would be needed to convict and remove Mayorkas from office, an outcome extremely unlikely given that Democrats control the Senate.

Democrats have a majority, holding 48 seats and the votes of three independents who caucus with them. Republicans are in the minority in the Senate, controlling 49 seats. If Democrats band together to support him, Mayorkas would be acquitted even if every Republican voted to convict.

If convicted, under Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution, Mr. Mayorkas would be removed from office and the Senate could vote to bar him from holding office again.

Quang Anh (according to New York Times)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bo-truong-an-ninh-noi-dia-my-se-bi-luan-toi-nhu-the-nao-post284479.html