Hoyer Statement on House Republicans' Baseless Impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement tonight after House Republicans voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:

“Today, instead of working with us to take tangible, bipartisan action to reform our immigration system – as they could and should have done – House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This is a dangerous breach of precedent. Secretary Mayorkas is only the second cabinet official to face impeachment, and the first to be impeached in nearly 150 years.

“This impeachment was never about evidence of criminal wrongdoing or an abuse of office – indeed, there wasn’t any. Even Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher assessed that Secretary Mayorkas’ conduct ‘doesn’t rise to the level of high crimes or misdemeanors.’ Instead, this impeachment was a cynical political ploy aimed at punishing a public servant of great integrity over a policy disagreement. 

“The American people don’t care about political points; they want results. They want their Congress to deliver, not distract. For their sake, House Republicans must learn to govern. Tonight’s vote once again proved that the House GOP would rather indulge the far-right with political gestures than put People Over Politics.”