By Steve Neavling
Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate are expected to move to quickly dismiss the impeachment case against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Associated Press reports.
Mayorkas was impeached in the Republican-controlled U.S. House by a single vote earlier this month.
But Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate and have shown no interest in holding a trial, calling the impeachment a political stunt that has no merit.
To dismiss the case, Democrats need at least 51 votes. That would mean every Democrat and the chamber’s three Independents would need to vote to dismiss, unless some Republicans join them.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has not yet said what he plans to do, but he could move to dismiss the trial or table the two articles, which would end the House effort.
If Democrats don’t have the votes to dismiss the trial or table the articles, they could vote to create a trial committee to investigate the charges.
The other option is to hold a trial, which could take weeks.
