Credit: Glenn Fawcett
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick voted again to impeach U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Tuesday’s vote marked the second attempt in just two weeks, with the latest vote on narrowly passing by a margin of 214-213. Last week’s attempt failed.
The impeachment is notable as it represents the first successful impeachment of a cabinet member by the U.S. House since 1876.
The responsibility now shifts to the Senate, which will conduct a trial to determine whether Mayorkas should be removed from office. Despite the House’s decision, multiple reports suggested that the U.S. Senate trial is unlikely to lead to Mayorkas’s ousting.
In a statement released last week on Fitzpatrick’s website, the GOP lawmaker said Mayorkas “categorically failed” to manage illegal immigration effectively and had been “retreating” from both policy and federal laws.
The criticism from Fitzpatrick echoes the discontent among Republicans regarding the current administration’s immigration policies.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
Fitzpatrick’s office did not respond to a request for comment following the Tuesday vote.
Ashley Ehasz, the Democrat running for Fitzpatrick’s First Congressional District, shared on social media that the impeachment vote was “with no evidence.”
“Still disappointed,” she said. “Still not surprised.”
Political group Congressional Integrity Project called out Fitzpatrick for his vote.
“Make no mistake – poll after poll has shown that the people are tired of partisan games and political stunts and they want solutions to real issues like the cost of living and the border and instead of focusing on those issues House Republicans just told the American people to go to hell. In particular, Republicans like Brian Fitzpatrick from swing districts won by Biden in 2020 have made their beds and they will have to lie in them – right next to Donald Trump,” said Congressional Integrity Project Executive Director Kyle Herrig
Fitzpatrick had previously voted against the impeachment of then-President Donald Trump in both 2019 and 2021, making his most recent votes his first in favor of impeachment for a government official.
The impeachment efforts have been met with strong opposition from White House officials, who have labeled the move as “unconstitutional.” The stance was supported by opinions from some conservative commentators, according to the White House.
Mayorkas, whose family fled communist Cuba, is an attorney who has previously served as a prosecutor under Democratic and Republican administrations. He worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during President Barack Obama’s administration before working at a private law firm. President Joe Biden selected Mayorkas to serve as homeland security secretary and the U.S. Senate confirmed him in 2021.
