EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senators Prepare to Prevent Legislative Business Without Full Trial on Mayorkas Impeachment
Republican senators are gearing up to prevent all legislative business in the Senate from going forward if they don’t get a full trial into the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
According to five sources, a dozen GOP senators have been planning for more than a week to obstruct legislative proceedings in the Senate. Their action is contingent on points of order not being agreed to in the impeachment trial of Mayorkas when the House impeachment managers deliver the articles to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
A Senate Republican aide familiar with the talks stated, “The Senate runs on unanimous consent. Any one senator can do that.”
GOP Senators Seek to Halt Impeachment Trial
A second Senate Republican aide confirmed the support of several senators for slowing down or even stopping legislative business if impeachment is tabled. Senate Republicans are using this strategy to force Schumer and the Democrats to discuss the trial’s proceedings.
Various Actions to Halt Senate Business
Republican senators have discussed several plans to halt the Senate if necessary. These plans include objecting to motions to adjourn and recess or proceed to executive business, as well as objecting to regular business, ultimately leading to time-consuming procedural actions such as reading from the journal and recapitulating the previous day’s business. Senators have the power to object to requests to move forward on items with unanimous consent, including legislation, schedule items, and adjournment.
Schumer’s Response and Republican Senate Support
When asked about the possibility of the impeachment trial being tabled, a top Senate Republican source shared that this type of holdup could occur. If the articles are delivered next week, there would be nothing to stop Republican senators from objecting to basic procedural measures. However, it remains uncertain if the entire Republican conference supports this type of protest strategy.
Negotiating a Mayorkas Impeachment Trial
The Republican plan to obstruct Senate business is intended to bring Schumer and the Democrats to the negotiation table regarding the Mayorkas impeachment trial. By putting a hold on legislative business, they aim to exert pressure and address concerns around the trial’s proceedings.
White House and Schumer’s Response
When approached for comment, Schumer’s office did not immediately reply. Similarly, the White House Counsel’s office did not provide a response as of yet.
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