House panel clears Mayorkas impeachment articles, sending them to floor

The House Rules Committee on Monday approved a rule permitting the lower chamber to consider the articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The committee voted 8 to 4 to approve the rule, which also provided for the consideration of an unrelated healthcare bill. The panel's decision means the articles could face a vote as soon as Tuesday.

"I take no pleasure in our actions today. But Secretary Mayorkas’ actions – both in his intentional refusal to enforce our laws and abandoning the confidence of Americans– require us to act," panel Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said, according to the New York Post. "Secretary Mayorkas has refused to uphold his oath of office. If he will not do his duty, then unfortunately, the House must do its constitutional duty."

The articles secured the backing of the Homeland Security Committee last week in an 18-15 vote. Republicans have accused Mayorkas of a "breach of trust" and a "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" in relation to his handling of the unprecedented influx of alien arrivals at the southern border.

It remains unclear if Republicans will have sufficient support for the vote to succeed. Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck last week indicated he would not support impeaching Mayorkas, saying "[t]he people I'm talking to... agree that this just isn't an impeachable offense."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.