Mike Johnson will delay transmission of Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate

A spokesperson for House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday confirmed that he would delay sending the articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate at the request of conservatives in the upper chamber.

The House voted to impeach Mayorkas in February, but has not yet sent the two articles to the Senate. Johnson was expected to do so on Wednesday, The Hill reported, while the Senate had been expected to vote on tabling the articles Thursday. Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee had suggested lawmakers might make a more informed decision by waiting rather than voting so quickly after returning from a break.

"To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week," Johnson spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said. "There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last week suggested that the trial for Mayorkas could begin as early as Thursday, indicating that Senators would be sworn in as jurors one day after the upper chamber received the articles.

Republicans have largely blamed Mayorkas and his policies for the ongoing situation at the southern border, which has seen an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings during Biden's administration. The articles accused him of a "breach of trust" and a "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law."

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