The failed vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was a “setback,” but House Republicans will try again and prevail, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared on Wednesday.
Johnson spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill the morning after a series of votes in which lawmakers were unable to approve impeachment articles against Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis as well as a $17.6 billion Israel aid package.
“Last night was a setback, but democracy is messy,” Johnson said in response to a question on impeachment, noting the House GOP has a “razor thin margin” over the Democrats.
.@SpeakerJohnson on failed impeachment: "Last night was a setback but democracy is messy…We will pass those articles of impeachment. We'll do it on the next time round." pic.twitter.com/owlIqe24i0
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 7, 2024
The speaker alluded to Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who showed up at the last moment to cast his vote while in a wheelchair after being rushed from a hospital where he has been recovering from abdominal surgery.
“Sometimes when you’re counting votes and people show up when they’re not expected to be in the building, that changes the equation,” Johnson said.
Three GOP lawmakers broke ranks and joined all voting Democrats to defeat the resolution, arguing that the problems with border security boil down to policy differences rather than impeachable offenses.
Because GOP Vice Chairman Blake Moore (R-UT) flipped to a “no” vote at the last moment to break a tie, Republicans will get another chance to bring up the impeachment resolution in the future. They await the return of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), who has been battling cancer.
Johnson said lawmakers have a “duty” to hold Mayorkas and the Biden administration accountable.
“We will pass those articles of impeachment. We’ll do it on the next time round,” Johnson said without providing a date for the next vote.
Johnson chided the majority of House Democrats who voted against the Israel aid bill, claiming they did so for “political purposes,” and said “we’ll see” what the Senate does with its $118 billion package coupling border security reforms with funds for Ukraine, Israel, and other foreign causes.
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“I have made very clear that you have to address these issues on their own merits,” Johnson said, “and Israel desperately needs the assistance, everyone knows that.”
.@SpeakerJohnson on his inexperience and the removal of @SpeakerMcCarthy: "It was a mess what happened here, but we're cleaning it up…I don't think this is a reflection on the leader, it's a reflection on the body itself." pic.twitter.com/ggROsoZ01R
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 7, 2024
Johnson also pushed back on critics who say the House’s struggles to pass measures reflect his inexperience and allies who view the removal of now-former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker as a disaster for the GOP.
“It was a mess what happened here, but we’re cleaning it up … I don’t think this is a reflection on the leader, it’s a reflection on the body itself,” Johnson said.